Dugite

Description

The dugite is a venomous snake, considered dangerous. The dugite is coloured grey, green, or brown. The colours vary widely between individuals and are an unreliable means of identifying the species. Black scales can be scattered over the body; their scales are relatively large with a semi-glossy appearance. The most distinguishing characteristic is the head that can be rather small and indistinct from the neck. A dugite's body is long and slender in build and can grow up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in total length (including tail), but the average size is roughly 1.5 metres.

Distribution and habitat

P. affinis is found in southern parts of Western Australia and in remote coastal parts of western South Australia. As can be seen on the map , the Dugite is found between southern parts of Western Australia and in coastal parts of western South Australia.

The Dugite occupies a wide variety of habitats ranging from coastal dunes, heathlands, shrub lands to woodlands. The Dugite also appears to thrive in heavily degraded habitats such as golf courses, industrial areas, and open agricultural farmlands.

The Dugite is one species of snake that has increased in population since the opening up of its natural habitats and introduction of the house mouse due to the mouse being a main food source for the Dugite. In the Perth metropolitan area, the Dugite is one of the most common snakes found next to buildings. In areas of human population the snake will take temporary shelter under things such as concrete slabs, fibro sheeting and roofing tin, although in more natural habitats they will shelter under rocks and in abandoned termite mounds. They are also a snake species that burrows during the winter period.

Behaviour

In the wild they may be sheltering beneath logs or rocks. When disturbed, Dugites are very shy and will often slither away, however they will defend themselves if cornered. The species is diurnal. On hot days, activity occurs mainly in the morning, and to lesser extent in the afternoon.

Reproduction

As with all brown snakes, mating normally occurs between early September and late November. The Dugite is an egg laying (oviparous) snake, and will typically deposit around 30 eggs and abandon them to self-incubate. The eggs will hatch after approximately 65 days. Under optimal environmental conditions the Dugite has been known to lay two clutches during the same season.

Envenomation

The venom of P. affinis is potentially one of the most lethal in the world, causing coagulopathic and procoagulant effects. Dugites generally avoid biting humans, but risks of encounters rise when they are most active during the mating season through October and November.

The last death attributed to a dugite was in Fremantle (South Beach) on 15 August 2015. A woman was bitten on her heel mid-afternoon while walking alone. She walked home and later collapsed whilst her husband was taking her to her car in order to transport her to the hospital. The ambulance was called, arriving five minutes later, but medics were unable to revive her. It is a member of the genus Pseudonaja, sometimes referred to as brown snakes, contained in the Elapidae family. The descriptions of three subspecies are currently accepted; they are:

Note: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Pseudonaja.

Conservation status

Dugites are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and to kill or injure one attracts a fine of up to A$4000.