Home Reptiles of Sydney HarbourSnakesFront-fanged Venomous Snakes
Broad-headed Snake, Hoplocephalus bungaroides
The Broad-headed Snake is a small to moderately large species of venomous snake of 60 cm average length to 90 cm maximum length. It is not regarded as a lethal species but the bite can produce acute symptoms. In appearance the Broad-headed Snake is black above with numerous yellow markings arranged in irregular, narrow crossbands. In overall colouration it resembles a sub-adult Diamond Python.
The Broad-headed Snake is a species with a very restricted distribution in New South Wales. It occurs mainly on sandstone escarpment of the Dividing Range from Mudgee and the Wollemi National Park area in the north to near Nowra in the south. The species inhabits sandstone habitat close to the coast south of Sydney Harbour. In the 1860s it was regarded as common along the rocky coastline around Sydney from Port Jackson south to Botany Bay, and around Middle Harbour, Lane Cove and Parramatta. The species has not been reliably recorded from the Sydney Harbour area for over a century. The Broad-headed Snake does not persist in the face of urban development and the species distribution in the Sydney region has been greatly reduced. Aside from the loss of habitat through increasing urbanisation, the snakes survival in remaining bushland areas was threatened by removal of bush-rock for landscaping. This practice impacted on sheltering and foraging sites for the snake, and resulted in loss of habitat for its prey. Fortunately the snake still exists in a number of extensive reserve areas throughout its range.
The Broad-headed Snake is currently listed as endangered in New South Wales under the current state legislation and as vulnerable at the national level.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002
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