Dugite

Dugite
A dugite on a walking path
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Pseudonaja
Species: P. affinis
Binomial name
Pseudonaja affinis
Günther, 1872
subspecies
  • Pseudonaja affinis affinis
    Günther, 1872
  • Pseudonaja affinis exilis
    Storr, 1989
  • Pseudonaja affinis tanneri
    (Worrell, 1961)

The dugite /ˈdjuːɡaɪt/ (Pseudonaja affinis) is a species of venomous, potentially lethal, snake native to Western Australia, a member of the family Elapidae.

Caution sign for dugite snakes in the coastal dunes near Swanbourne Beach in Swanbourne, Western Australia.

The local Nyungar name for the dugite is dobitj.

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

Distribution

P. affinis is found in southern parts of Western Australia and in remote 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.[1] Dugites generally avoid biting humans, but risks of encounters rise when they are most active during the mating season through October and November.[2]

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. [3] It is a member of the genus Pseudonaja, sometimes referred to as brown snakes, contained in the Elapidae family.[4] The descriptions of three subspecies are currently accepted; they are:[5]

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.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Judge RK, Henry PJ, d'Aprile AC, Lynch D, Jelinek G, Wilce MCJ, Wilce JA. 2002. Identification of PLA2 and alpha-Neurotoxin Proteins in the Venom of Pseudonaja affinis (Dugite). Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 181 (3): 184-191. (Publisher: Academic Press).
  2. ↑ Dugites love to live near people ABC, 10 August 2004. Cached by Google.
  3. ↑ Günther A. 1872. Seventh Account of new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Fourth Series 9: 13-37 + Plates III-VI. (Pseudonaja affinis, new species, pp. 35-36 + Plate IV, Figure C).
  4. ↑ "Pseudonaja affinis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  5. ↑ Pseudonaja affinis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database.
  6. ↑ Storr GM. 1979. Dangerous Snakes of Western Australia, Third Edition. Perth: Western Australian Museum Press. 24 pp.
  7. ↑ Worrell E. 1961. A New Insular Brown Snake. Proceedings of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales 79: 56-58, Figures A-C. (Demansia nuchalis tanneri, new subspecies).
  8. ↑ Dramatic increase in snake attacks on pets Narelle Towie, PerthNow, 2007-11-26. Retrieved 2008-03-13.

Judge, R. K., Henry, P. J., d'Aprile, A. C., Lynch, D., Jelinek, G. A., Wilce, M. C. J., & Wilce, J. A. (2002). Identification of PLA(2) and alpha-neurotoxin proteins in the venom of pseudonaja affinis (dugite). Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 181(3), 184.

Herrmann, R. P., Davey, M. G., & Skidmore, P. H. (1972). The coagulation defect after envenomation by the bite of the dugite (demansia nuchalis affinis), a western australian brown snake. The Medical Journal of Australia, 2(4), 183.

Wagovau. (2016). Wagovau. Retrieved 13 May 2016, from http://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Dugite-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Australianmuseumnetau. (2016). Australianmuseumnetau. Retrieved 13 May 2016, from http://australianmuseum.net.au/dugite

Pilbarapythonscom. (2016). Pilbarapythonscom. Retrieved 13 May 2016, from http://www.pilbarapythons.com/dugite.htm

Animalarkcomau. (2016). Animalarkcomau. Retrieved 13 May 2016, from http://www.animalark.com.au/pdfs/SnakeAware.pdf

Further reading

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