Download Austrelaps labialis Pygmy Copperhead

REPTILE
Austrelaps labialis
Pygmy Copperhead
AUS
SA
AMLR
Endemism
Residency
-
-
V
State
Resident
Between January 1988 and March 1989, Read and
Bedford (1991) searched many reserves in the AMLR,
including Deep Creek, Newland Head, Scott, Horsnell
Gully, Belair and low reaches of Cleland, without
finding the Pygmy Copperhead.2
Post-1983 AMLR filtered records nearly all confined to
the area between Cherryville, Hahndorf and Belair.
Isolated records from Cox Scrub CP, east of Mount Billy
CP, and near Newland Head CP on Fleurieu Peninsula.
Available records do not suggest any range decline
has occurred.3
Pre-1983 AMLR filtered records from the area
encompassed by Cleland CP, Piccadilly Valley,
Cherryville and Mylor, and two isolated records near
Mount Compass.3
Photo: © Tony Robinson
Conservation Significance
Endemic to SA. The AMLR distribution is disjunct,
isolated from other extant occurrences within SA.
Within the AMLR the species’ relative area of
occupancy is classified as ‘Extremely Restricted’.3
Although rated Vulnerable in The Action Plan for
Australian Reptiles the Pygmy Copperhead has no
threatened status under either State or Federal
government legislation (Cogger et al. 1993).1
The AMLR population is considered under threat,
however the geographically-isolated KI population is
probably secure (Hutchinson 1992).2
Description
Medium-sized venomous elapid snake.1 Mature at a
snout-vent length of at least 30 cm (Jenner 1994;
Shine 1987a).5
Distribution and Population
Has a restricted distribution on mainland SA, confined
to a relatively small area of high rainfall in the central
MLR and south to Fleurieu Peninsula. Common on KI. 1
Recent records have extended its range to include
Glenalta, Skye and Montacute CP and new records
were obtained from southern Fleurieu Peninsula and
at two locations north of Mount Compass (Foster and
Littlely 2000).1
Habitat
In the AMLR, largely restricted to high altitude cool
Stringybark forest. These areas have an average
annual rainfall between 800 and 1000 mm. Most sites
are near the tops of hills and were characterised by a
near closed canopy and dense heath or bracken
understorey.2 Resting Copperheads are usually found
under rocks or sheets of iron (Read and Bedford 1991).2
On KI occurs in a wide variety of habitats, including
coastal dunes, samphire flats, open grassland, closed
woodland and in agricultural areas. Abundance here
may largely be a function of the relatively low human
population in or near habitats occupied by this species
compared with the central MLR (Read and Bedford
1991). In the past may have been more widely
distributed on the mainland, including coastal mallee
heath sites (Bird 1994).5
Require a reliable source of water and have been
observed to become stressed under hot conditions.
Many sightings have been made close to permanent
water or in domestic gardens. They seek shelter in
places where they are buffered from the extremes of
weather, such as rock rubble, dry-stone walls or old
sheet metal.4
Within the AMLR the preferred broad vegetation group
is Heathy Open Forest.3
Biology and Ecology
Feeds on insects, frogs, lizard eggs, lizards (skinks are
the most common prey) and occasionally mammals
(Shine 1987, 1987a).5
Further information:
Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Adelaide Region
Phone: (61 8) 8336 0901 Fax: (61 8) 8336 0999
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/
 Department for Environment and Heritage FIS 90346 May 2008
Prepared as part of the Regional Recovery Plan for Threatened Species and Ecological Communities of Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia 2009 - 2014
References
Ovoviviparous. Pregnant females can be found from
mid-spring to late summer (November-March) and
wild caught snakes have given birth in mid-summer
(February) (Jenner 1995; Read and Bedford 1991;
Shine 1987a). Mean litter sizes is 7.4 (Shine 1987a).5
Aboriginal Significance
Post-1983 records indicate the AMLR distribution
occurs in Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and Peramangk
Nations.3
Threats
Threats probably include a combination of factors,
including:

clearance of habitat and removal of
undergrowth,
for
urban
development,
agriculture and grazing, due to reliance on the
cover provided by dense vegetation (including
weeds)

predation by cats and Eastern Brown Snakes
which have been advantaged by land
clearance and agriculture

herbicides and pesticides reducing populations
of prey species, such as frogs, which can be
sensitive to chemicals (M. Hutchinson pers.
comm.).2,4
Note: In some cases original reference sources are not
included in this list, however they can be obtained from the
reference from which the information has been sourced (the
reference cited in superscript).
1 Armstrong, D. M., Croft, S. N. and Foulkes, J. N. (2003). A
Biological Survey of the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges, South
Australia, 2000-2001. Department for Environment and
Heritage, South Australia.
2 Cogger, H. G., Cameron, E. E., Sadlier, R. A. and Eggler, P.
(1993). The Action Plan for Australian Reptiles. Australian
Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.
3 Department for Environment and Heritage (2007). Adelaide
and Mount Lofty Ranges Regional Recovery Pilot Project
Database. Unpublished data extracted and edited from
BDBSA, SA Herbarium (July 2007) and other sources.
4 Foster, R. and Littlely, T. (2000). The Pygmy copperhead
snake, Austrelaps labialis (Elapidae) in the Mount Lofty
Ranges: Distribution, Conservation and Ecological Notes.
South Australian Herpetology Group, Adelaide.
5 Greer, A. E. (2006). Encyclopedia of Australian Reptiles.
Australian Museum Online, Version date: 7 August 2006.
Available
from
http://www.amonline.net.au/herpetology/research/#encyclo
pedia.
Additional current direct threats have been identified
and rated for this species. Refer to the main plan
accompanying these profiles.
Regional Distribution
Map based on filtered post-1983 records.3 Note, this map does not
necessarily represent the actual species’ distribution within the AMLR.
Further information:
Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Adelaide Region
Phone: (61 8) 8336 0901 Fax: (61 8) 8336 0999
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/
 Department for Environment and Heritage FIS 90346 May 2008
Prepared as part of the Regional Recovery Plan for Threatened Species and Ecological Communities of Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia 2009 - 2014