Our volunteer botanists, John and Vanessa Hunter, found more than interesting plants on their last visit to Naree Station in April this year – pictured is a Ringed Brown Snake (Pseudonaja modesta) encountered during a monitoring trip.
Listed as an endangered species in New South Wales the snake’s habitat has suffered severe fragmentation, degradation and loss, and the species on which it preys – skinks – are declining for the same reasons.
Far Western NSW is at the eastern extent of its range, with only a small number of sightings in the State since the 1970s. It likes to live in arid shrublands and dry water courses, and shelters under surface debris that is easily disturbed by trampling livestock and may also be affected by altered fire regimes which favour too frequent or non-patchy fires.
The snake is relatively small, reaching a maximum length of 50 to 60cm, has four to seven black bands along its brownish body, and is found in the drier parts of all states except Victoria and Tasmania.
More information can be found at: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/RingedBrownSnakeEndSpListing.htm
Ringed Brown Snake (Pseudonaja modesta). Photo John Hunter.