General News
25 September, 2023
Field naturalists club on the look out for potential new snake subspecies
The Maryborough Field Naturalists Club are on the hunt for what could be a variant or even new subspecies of tiger snake, with a number of reports of large, all-black serpents in the area. Over a number of decades the club has received reports of...
The Maryborough Field Naturalists Club are on the hunt for what could be a variant or even new subspecies of tiger snake, with a number of reports of large, all-black serpents in the area.
Over a number of decades the club has received reports of the all-black Tiger snakes close to local creeks in the Tullaroop area, with reports the reptiles have grown up to one and a half metres in length.
According to the club, this is of particular interest to them as tiger snakes usually grow to no more than 1.2 metres and are typically characterised by grey-brown and buff-yellow stripes, although one example in Lexton several years ago was two-toned grey.
The club believes the all-black species could be a regional variation of the tiger snake, a previously unidentified sub-species or a new species all together — with a number of eucalypts setting a precedent for this in the area.
“No one would have thought 20 years ago that a previously unknown eucalypt species would be discovered close to Maryborough, yet in the time since, the botanist Kevin Rule found not one but three previously unknown species,” a club spokesperson said.
Sightings of the unusually large snakes have been reported to the club over the last 40 years, with the group now calling on landowners and residents who spot one to contact them so a live specimen can be documented.
“A current member observed a large black coloured snake on a road near Cotswold, east of Maryborough, about 40 years ago but because it was almost dusk the snake could not be located and identified,” the spokesperson said.
“About 20 years ago, this was mentioned to manager of the then Department of Conservation, Forests and Land in Maryborough, Phil Dalziel, and he revealed that his officers had observed
Tiger snakes in the same area which were abnormally large and all-black.
“The club observed one of these snakes about five years ago beside the Smeaton Road between Tullaroop and Campbelltown and confirmed it was an all-black over-sized tiger snake.
“Because of speculation of what these snakes might be, the club is anxious to gather more information and that is why the club is seeking help from landowners.”
In particular, the club is appealing for help from farmers who might come across the all-black snakes on their property.
The club is urging anyone who sights one of the specimens to contact them on 0408 653 799 and, if possible, keep the snake under observation until a photographer arrives.