Bandy Bandy
The Bandy Bandy is a reptile and its scientific name
is Vermicella Annulata. It belongs to the family of
Elapidae which includes some of Australia’s
deadliest snakes but the Bandy Bandy produces
little venom glands and it is usually harmless.
Bandy Bandy
Features
One way the Bandy Bandy got its name was because of the white and black “bands”
covering their body. The number and width of the bands differs from male to female but
they have around 48 or more rings. These creatures have snouts that are black, short and
blunt tails and very tiny eyes.
Predators and Prey
The Bandy Bandy feed on a group of snakes called blind
snakes, their scientific name is Ramphotyphlops and they
belong to the family of Typhlopidae. Bandy Bandys eat mice
though not that often as blind snakes. Bandy Bandys can
swallow prey almost as large as them. Owls are there
predators as they can swoop down and pick them from the
ground.
Blind snakes
Adaptations
The continuous pattern of the black and white rings confuses its predator so they cannot
see which way the snake is going. The predator can’t work out which is the head or tail. This
trick is called the “flicker fusion” and this sometimes applies to zebras in a group because of
their stripes. Bandy Bandys are nocturnal like any other desert animals because of the
extreme heat of the dry environment.
Home and Habitats
They live in subterranean habitats so they like to dig underground. They are commonly
found beneath the soil surface and under stumps, rocks and logs. Bandy Bandys are
sometimes seen on roads at night especially after rain.
Size
They grow up to 68cm long and the baby snakes are around 17cm long when they are born.
Life Span
Their life span is unknown.
Reproduction
The female lays 2 to 13 eggs and their babies hatch from softshelled eggs.
Wild Status and Range
They mainly live in Central Australian deserts and Northern and
Eastern Australia. Just because Bandy Bandys are not seen often
it doesn’t mean they are endangered.
Range of Bandy Bandys
There are five species of Bandy Bandys and four of them live in the Northern Territory so
don’t be surprised to see one in your backyard pool or slithering in your garden, people up
there!
By: Stephanie K