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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