Survey guidelines for Australia’s threatened reptiles

Broad-headed snake

Hoplocephalus bungaroides

Summary information

Distribution: recorded from a number of locations on the sandstone ranges between Colo north of Sydney to Nowra on the NSW south coast, with an outlying population in the west near Bathurst (Cogger et al. 1993).
Habit and habitat: arboreal and rock-dwelling, depending on the season. The species has a complex biology which involves movement between outcropping sandstone bluffs used as over-wintering sites and adjacent dry forest of the ridges during summer by males and non-gravid females (Webb & Shine 1997a, b). Gravid females remained near cliffs during summer.

During summer months, broad-headed snakes that move into the adjacent dry forest use large dead trees with numerous hollows (Webb & Shine 1997a), typically grey gums and Sydney peppermint Eucalyptus piperita.

Activity period: nocturnal. Late spring through to mid-summer appears to be the period of greatest movement.

Survey methods

Most records for this species have been obtained by searching suitable sheltering sites (under rocks or in crevices) on westerly-facing sandstone cliffs by day during winter (Webb & Shine 1997b). The effect of disturbance to sandstone exfoliations by active searching that involves lifting are not yet clear, but it is generally perceived that breakage or inappropriate replacement of rocks could affect their suitability as sheltering sites. For these reasons, searching appropriate sheltering sites with torches during winter to detect the presence of the species in an area is recommended. Searching rock outcrops by day will only sample a subset of rocky sheltering sites; in particular deep crevices will not be thoroughly examined.

Similar species in range: juvenile diamond pythons Morelia spilota spilota are superficially similar in overall appearance to the broad-headed snake, and are likely to occur in the same general area throughout the species range.

Potential records of the broad-headed snake should be supported by a good quality colour photograph. Photo vouchers should be forwarded to the state fauna authority and appropriate state museum (Australian Museum) for positive identification and databasing of the record.

Key references for Hoplocephalus bungaroides

Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E., Sadlier, R.A. & Eggler, P. 1993. The action plan for Australian reptiles. Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra. 254 pp.

Webb, J.K. & Shine, R. 1997a. Out on a limb: conservation implications of tree-hollow use by a threatened snake species (Hoplocephalus bungaroides: Serpentes, Elapidae). Biological Conservation 81: 21-33.

Webb, J.K. & Shine, R. 1997b. A field study of spatial ecology and movements of a threatened snake species, Hoplocephalus bungaroides. Biological Conservation 82: 202-217.

Bronzeback snake-lizard

Ophidiocephalus taeniatus

Summary information

Distribution: known only from several localities in recent times, ranging from Abminga just south of the Northern Territory/South Australia border south to near Coober Pedy, generally along watercourse country (Cogger et al. 1993).
Habit and habitat: the bronzeback snake-lizard occurs along temporary watercourses lined by gidgee open woodland (Cogger et al. 1993). It is a fossorial species that inhabits sandy clay loam float on well drained deep cracking soils overlain by deep loose undisturbed leaf litter (Ehmann 1981); it was not recorded from sand dune habitat in the general vicinity of the Abminga site. An individual was also collected from leaf litter underneath a mulga, Acacia aneura, on an open rocky plain 8 kilometres from the nearest major watercourse, but in the vicinity of a small braided waterway. This record indicates the species may inhabit a broader range of habitats in the arid region.

The bronzeback snake-lizard might also undergo dramatic local fluctuations in extent and abundance (Ehmann 1992) with climatically induced changes to habitat.

Activity period: probably year round with the exception of the coldest months. Peak activity is likely to be late spring and early summer. Not active on the ground surface by day, and would only be active between sheltering sites at night. Probably closer to the interface between overburden and soil in late afternoon and early morning.

Survey methods

The bronzeback snake-lizard appears to be a specialist inhabitant of leaf litter mats under gidgee and mulga. Appropriate survey methodology for detecting the presence of this species would be searching sheltering sites of leaf litter by raking. It has not been recorded in pitfall traps set in areas where the species was successfully detected by hand searching. Downes and colleagues (1997) comment that searches at Arckaringa were most successful after rain the previous night.
Similar species in range: the bronzeback snake-lizard is the only completely limbless (other than small hindlimb flaps typical of pygopod lizards) burrowing lizard in this and adjacent regions.

Potential records of the bronzeback snake-lizard should be supported by a good quality colour photograph. Photo vouchers should be forwarded to the state fauna authority and appropriate state museum (South Australian Museum or Northern Territory Museum) for positive identification and databasing of the record.

Key references for Ophidiocephalus taeniatus

Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed New Holland, Sydney.

Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E., Sadlier, R.A. & Eggler, P. 1993. The action plan for Australian reptiles. Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra. 254 pp.

Downes, S., Foster, R. & Molnar, C. 1997. New insights into the distribution and habitat of the vulnerable Bronzeback legless lizard Ophidiocephalus taeniatus. Herpetofauna 27(1): 11-13.

Ehmann, H. 1981. The natural history and conservation of the Bronzeback (Ophidiocephalus taeniatus Lucas and Frost) (Lacertilia, Pygopodidae). Proceedings of the Melbourne Herpetological Symposium. Zoological Board of Victoria, 7-13.

Ehmann, H. 1992. The apparent severe decline of the Bronzeback Legless Lizard (Ophidiocephalus taeniatus) at Abminga. Herpetofauna 22(1): 31-33.

McDonald, P. & Fyfe, G. 2008. A Survey for the Bronzeback Snake-Lizard (Ophidiocephalus taeniatus). New Crown and Umbeara Pastoral Leases, Northern Territory. Department of Natural Resources, Environment the Arts and Sport, Alice Springs.