Dugites

P.a. affinis has variable colourings with scattering of black scales which makes this snake difficult to identify. Juveniles have black heads and nape and some dugites can be banded. Iris usually orange-brown.

The total length of this snake is approx 2.0m.

This snake is found from the Cervantes in the north of WA to the south-east in the western side of South Australia living in all habitats.

Come back soon to see our video of dugites at Armadale Reptile Centre.

Here they have observed males sparring with each other during feeding time and at one time they saw a dugite try to eat a mouse that another dugite already had in its mouth.

This Dugite was seen sunning itself on a 18degree day with showers and fine patches in early October at the Wandoo Conservation Park in the Darling Ranges. It had a bulge in its stomach so it needed to digest its meal. The snake quickly went down this hole.

For a relatively common snake I have seen few around Perth, although they do come into some suburbs from surrounding bushland. I saw this one at Bold Park in central Perth around the amphitheatre.

View from the amphitheatre at Bold Park

When provoked it raises it fore-body in an S-shape and hisses loudly striking repeatedly.

P. a.exilis A smaller size and darker in colour. Known on some islands of the southern coast of WA such as Rottnest.
The anal scale is divided.

P.a. tanneri found on islands such as the Archipelago islands off the Pilbara coast. These two dugites reach the maximum length of 115cm.

Males may fight in spring but not causing any damage to each other.

The dugite lays approx 13-20 eggs which hatch in February. The juveniles will disperse and go their own way in late summer/early autumn.

Be careful that you don't pick up what appears to be a legless lizard but is really a young dugite.

What does it eat?

One of the reasons it comes around the city is that it enjoys eating mice, rats and rabbits. It also eats birds and lizards.

Occasionally cannibalistic.

Dugites can constrict their prey like a python does by coiling around the prey.

Other places I have seen Dugites;
Piney Lakes Perth
Bull Creek Park Perth
Bibra Lake Perth
South-west Hwy
Canning Mills Road Roleystone Perth

Text;
"Reptiles and Frogs of the Perth Region" by Brian Bush, Brad Maryan, Robert Browne-Cooper and David Robinson.
"Australian Reptiles A Photographic Reference to the Terrestrial Reptiles of Australia" by Stephen K Wilson, David G Knowles.
CD Rom "Australian Reptiles and Frogs" by Herald Ehnann and Micheal Tyler