Description

Whitish to cream ground colouration interrupted by numerous narrow, irregular dark bands with red and black flecks in interspaces. Large, dark bars are present on the head and nape, with the nuchal bar varying in width between the two subspecies; B. f. fasciolatus has a broad nuchal bar, ranging from 7-15 scales in width, whereas B. f. fasciatus possesses a narrower bar, 3-6 scales in width.

Similar species

North-western shovel-nosed snake (Brachyurophis approximans) - has the nasal and preocular scales in contact (versus widely separated).
Australian coral snake (Brachyurophis australis) - has narrow bands of pale, dark-edged scales (versus black bands).
Southern shovel-nosed snake (Brachyurophis semifasciatus) - has the nasal and preocular scales in contact (versus widely separated).

Subspecies

Brachyurophis fasciolatus fasciolatus Brachyurophis fasciolatus fasciatus

Scale count information

Dorsal scales at midbody		17
Ventrals		140 to 175 with a divided anal scale
Subcaudals		15 to 30 and are divided
Other scale information
Danger rating		Probably virtually harmless. Note: even a bite from a 'virtually harmless' or non-venomous reptile can result in serious complications. Play it safe and don't get bitten by anything.

Range

Brachyurophis f. fasciolatus - occurs in central-western Western Australia, from about Shark Bay south to Perth, stretching west well into the southern interior.

B. f. fasciata - occurs from far eastern Western Australia across South Australia and the southern Northern Territory, extending east into south-western Queensland.

Found in the following Australian states/territories

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Habitat

A variety of arid and semi-arid habitats.

Natural history

Diet

Feeds on reptiles, largely skinks, and reptile eggs.1 - Shine, Richard (1993). Australian snakes: a natural history. Reed Books. 223pp

Conservation status

NSW: vulnerable

Conservation notes

General threats

General threats to reptiles, and indeed all native wildlife, include:

• habitat loss from land clearing - it is estimated that between 1997 and 1999 in Queensland, 89 million reptiles were killed each year due to land clearing (Cogger et al. 2003) Impacts of Land Clearing on Australian Wildlife in Queensland.
• habitat degradation by introduced species such as cattle and rabbits - do your bit: eat roo not beef!
• habitat modification caused by global climate change
• death on roads
• feral predators such as dogs, cats, pigs and foxes
• the introduced cane toad
• emerging diseases

Note: these are general threats and may not apply to this particular species.

How you can help

There are many ways you can help our reptiles. Here are my top three suggestions:

1. donate to a habitat restoration organisation
2. ensure your carbon footprint is as small as possible
3. donate to another habitat restoration organisation

References

1. Shine, Richard (1993). Australian snakes: a natural history. Reed Books. 223pp - search web for this book

 

Additional links

Note: the links below are automatically generated. Some may not take you to useful information.

• Google searches - web | images | scholar
• Search The University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web
• Search Wikipedia for Brachyurophis fasciolatus
• Narrow-banded shovel-nosed snake at The TIGR Reptile Database