Nomination no.
843
FLORA AND FAUNA GUARANTEE - SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
FINAL RECOMMENDATION ON A NOMINATION FOR LISTING
Drysdalia mastersii (Krefft 1866) - Masters’ Snake
Date of receipt of nomination:
24 April 2013
Date of preliminary recommendation: 16 August 2013
Date of final recommendation:
29 January 2014
Validity:
The nomination is for a valid item.
Prescribed Information:
The prescribed information was provided.
File No.: FF/54/3506
Name of the Nominator is adequately provided.
Name of the item is adequately provided.
The nominated taxon is accepted by the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) as a valid taxon because it has been
formally described and is accepted as a valid taxon by Museum Victoria.
Masters’ Snake is a small elapid snake known only from coastal sites in southern Australia from near Esperance in Western
Australia eastwards to Port Augusta and Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, and from the coast at the Coorong through the
Ngarkat and contiguous conservation parks in the south-east of South Australia to the Big Desert of Victoria (AROD 2013,
Cogger 2000). All Victorian records are from the Big Desert and its immediate surroundings. Its range is quite separate from
the other two known species of Drysdalia: the White-lipped Snake (D. coronoides) of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania
and the Mustard-bellied Snake (D. rhodogaster) of south-eastern New South Wales. Masters’ Snake is brownish-grey on the
upper surface, with a darker head, a dark line and white stripe along the side of the head below eyelevel and a distinctive
orange patch on either side of the nape just behind the head. It is a small snake: the maximum body length of Victorian
specimens is reported as less than 30 cm (Coventry and Robertson 1991), though Wilson and Swan (2010) report it as up to 33
cm and Cogger (2000) to 40 cm.
Over much of their range, Masters’ snakes are found on coastal calcareous sands over limestone bedrock, though at the eastern
end they occur on largely siliceous dune systems. All localities have a relatively cool winter, a dry, hot summer and a substrate
with little surface water. Vegetation cover is either mallee or heathland with abundant surface litter and ground-cover plants
that provide relatively dense cover within which they shelter, such as Porcupine-grass (Triodia scariosa), mainly on siliceous
sands, and Cushion-bush (Leucophyta brownii) on coastal calcareous sands (M.N.Hutchinson, South Australian Museum, pers.
comm.). The snake appears to feed exclusively on small lizards (Shine 1981, 1991). Coventry (1996b) recorded the skinks
Morethia obscura, Lerista bougainvillii and Ctenotus robustus in the stomachs of Masters’ Snakes trapped in the Big Desert.
Although Masters’ Snake appears to be relatively abundant in some more westerly parts of its range outside Victoria, it is not
commonly observed, has not been intensively studied and is relatively little-known; its presence is usually detected by pitfall
trapping.
Earlier literature did not list this species amongst the reptiles known from the Victorian Mallee (Rawlinson 1966). The first
records are specimens in Museum Victoria collected from Telopea Downs and Yanac near the southern fringe of the Big
Desert in July 1965 and in 1968 (Gilmore and McVicar 1973). Faunal surveys in the Big Desert in more recent years resulted
in additional records of Masters’ Snake (e.g. Mather 1979, Menkhorst 1982, Woinarski 1989, Robertson et al. 1989, Coventry
1996a and b). Based on pitfall-trapping surveys in the Big Desert in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Coventry (1996b)
considered Masters’ Snake “the most common elapid trapped or observed” during his survey.
There was no pitfall trapping within the known Victorian range of Masters’ Snake between 1987 and 2002, but intensive
trapping in parts of the Big Desert where it had previously been recorded have failed to detect it since (Robertson et al. 2010;
P. Robertson, Wildlife Profiles unpubl. data). Only two records of the species were added to the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas
in that period (in 1999 and 2007); numbers appear to be very low. Its current abundance in the nearby conservation parks in
South Australia also appears to be low (Hutchinson, pers. comm.). After the 1980’s there was an extensive hot fire in 1999
that spread from Ngarkat into the Big Desert, a second extensive and severe fire in 2002 largely within Victoria, and several
smaller fires. Collectively these fires burnt a large part of the Big Desert. Many fires in mallee-heath result from lightning
strikes, and the conditions required for their spread is now beginning to be understood (Cruz et al 2010).
The almost complete loss of vegetative ground cover in the fire-affected mallee-heath communities of the Big Desert seems the
most likely cause of the snake’s decline. Master’s Snake is not primarily a burrowing species; it appears to rely for shelter
primarily on live vegetation, and possibly on ground debris and plant litter as well (M. Hutchinson, P. Robertson pers. comm.).
An opportunity to shelter under vegetation and a sufficiently deep layer of litter is probably necessary for the snake to survive
NOMINATION NO. 843
temperature extremes on the hottest days of summer (M. Kearney, University of Melbourne, pers. comm.). Long-unburnt
vegetation therefore appears to provide critical habitat for this species, and probably drought refuges as well.
Fire not only destroys the vegetative cover required by the snake but also improves access to such areas for known predators of
small reptiles, such as foxes and cats. It is also likely that the drought conditions that affected south-eastern Australia between
1995 and 2009 adversely affected Master’s Snake by increasing the severity of the fires, perhaps also reducing the snake’s
habitat and prey. Frequent fire brought about both by lightning and human agency is a known long-term component of malleeheath communities in this part of Australia (Specht et al. 1957), and climate change can be expected to increase both fire
frequency and severity. The available evidence thus suggests that the continued survival of Masters’ Snake in Victoria
depends on enough unburnt ground cover surviving in the Big Desert to support a viable population. A patchy but moderately
extensive distribution of unburnt cover would probably be sufficient provided there is some connectivity between the patches.
Eligibility for listing as a taxon under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee
The nominated item satisfies at least one criterion of the set of criteria prepared and maintained under Section 11 of the Flora
and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and stated in Schedule 1 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Regulations 2011.
Based on the evidence that Masters’ Snake is of very limited distribution in Victoria, has declined significantly in numbers in
recent years due to processes that are still present and likely to increase in the future, the SAC believes that its nomination
meets at least two criteria for listing under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, viz:
Evidence that criteria are satisfied:
Criterion 1.2 The taxon is significantly prone to future threats which are likely to result in extinction
Evidence:
Available evidence suggests that Masters’ Snake is severely and negatively impacted by widespread high intensity fires
that not only decimate the snake population itself but remove suitable habitat entirely from much of its range and also
increase access to potential predators. Masters’ Snakes appear to depend for their survival on the continuing viability of
patches of long-unburnt heathland and mallee vegetation containing dense ground cover. Climate change and any
injudicious, poorly-managed controlled burning operations are likely to increase both fire frequency and severity,
potentially jeopardising the long-term future of this taxon in Victoria.
Sub-criterion 1.2.1 The taxon is very rare in terms of abundance or distribution
Evidence:
There are only 49 records of Masters’ Snake in the database of the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas, including the specimens
in Museum Victoria. All are from the Big Desert and its immediate surroundings in the far west of the state, with more
than half of them from one site: the Chinaman’s Well area in the Big Desert north of Nhill. Within Victoria the species
appears to occur in low densities as a small number of isolated populations. Although the current status of these
populations is uncertain, they have almost certainly declined considerably in numbers since the 1980s, warranting
concern for their future in Victoria. In the opinion of the SAC, the data presented on distribution and abundance are the
result of reasonable surveys and provide clear evidence that the taxon is very rare in terms of abundance and distribution.
Documentation
The published information cited has been assessed. Based on the evidence available to it, the SAC believes that the data
presented are not the subject of scientific dispute and the inferences drawn are reasonable and well supported.
Advertisement for public comment
In accordance with the requirements of Section 14 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, the preliminary
recommendation was advertised for a period of at least 30 days.
The preliminary recommendation was advertised in:
‘The Herald Sun - on 6 November 2013
‘The Weekly Times’ - on 6 November 2013
‘The Sunraysia Daily’ - on 6 November 2013
The Government Gazette - on 7 November 2013
Submissions closed on 13 December 2013.
Further evidence provided:
No submissions were received on this item by the Scientific Advisory Committee and no evidence was provided to warrant a
review of the Committee's preliminary recommendation that the taxon is eligible for listing.
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NOMINATION NO. 843
Final Recommendation of the Scientific Advisory Committee
The Scientific Advisory Committee concludes that on the evidence available the nominated item is eligible for listing in
accordance with Section 11(1) of the Act because criterion 1.2 and sub-criterion 1.2.1 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee
Regulations 2011 have been satisfied. The SAC therefore makes a final recommendation that the nominated item be supported
for listing under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
References:
AROD (Australian Reptile Online Database) (2013) http://www.arod.com.au (accessed August 2013)
Coventry, A. J. (1996a) Results of surveys of the herpetofauna of several areas in north-western Victoria. The Victorian
Naturalist 113: 289-298.
------------------ (1996b) The herpetofauna of the Chinaman Well area of the Big Desert, Victoria. Proceedings of the Royal
Society of Victoria 108: 107-119.
Coventry, A. J. & Robertson, P. (1991) The Snakes of Victoria – a guide to their identification. Department of Conservation
and Environment, East Melbourne.
Cogger, H. (2000) Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia. Reed Publishing, Sydney.
Cruz, M.G., Matthews, S., Gould, J., Ellis, P., Henderson, M., Knight, I. & Watters, J. (2010) Fire Dynamics in Mallee-Heath:
Fuel, Weather and Fire Behaviour Prediction in South Australian Semi-arid Shrublands. CSIRO Sustainable
Ecosystems, Canberra, A.C.T.
DSE (2013) Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria – 2013. Department of Sustainability and Environment,
East Melbourne. Available at URL: http://www.depi.vic.gov.au
Gilmore, A. M. & McVicar, J. M. (1973) Report on the reptiles of the Victorian Mallee from the collections and archives of
the National Museum of Victoria. Land Conservation Council of Victoria, Melbourne.
Mather, P. B. (1979) An examination of the reptile fauna of Wyperfeld National Park using pitfall trapping. The Victorian
Naturalist 96: 98-101.
Menkhorst, P. W. (1982) Pitfall trapping of reptiles in the Big Desert, Victoria. The Victorian Naturalist 99: 66-70.
Rawlinson, P. A. (1966) Reptiles of the Victorian Mallee. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 79: 605-619.
Robertson, P., Bennett, A. F., Lumsden, L. F., Silveira, C. E., Johnson. P. G., Yen, A.L., Milledge, G. A., Lillywhite, P. K. &
Pribble, H. J. (1989) Fauna of the Mallee study area north-western Victoria. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental
Research, Technical Report Series No. 87. Department of Conservation & Environment, Heidelberg.
Robertson, P., Coventry, P., Gibbons, D., Silveira, C., Sluiter, I., Morgan, D. & Baumgartner, J. (2010) Examination of the
responses of terrestrial vertebrates to the 2002 wildfire in the Big Desert. Interim report 2: Results from surveys in 198587, 2003-04 and 2009. Unpublished report to the Department of Sustainability and Environment. Wildlife Profiles Pty.
Ltd., Melbourne.
Shine, R. (1981) Venomous snakes in cold climates: ecology of the Australian genus Drysdalia (Serpentes: Elapidae). Copeia
1981: 14-25.
----------- (1991) Australian Snakes: a Natural History. Reed New Holland, Sydney.
Specht, R.L., Rayson, P. & Jackman, M.E. (1957) Dark Island Heath (Ninety-Mile Plain, South Australia) VI. Pyric
succession. Australian Journal of Botany 6(1): 59-88.
Wilson, S. & Swan, G. (2010) A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. 3rd Edn. New Holland Publishing, Sydney.
Woinarski, J. C. Z. (1989) The vertebrate fauna of broombrush Melaleuca uncinata vegetation in north-western Victoria, with
reference to effects of broombrush harvesting. Australian Wildlife Research 16: 217–238.
Endorsement by the Convenor of the Scientific Advisory Committee
Date
SIGNED BY
____________________________
Assoc. Prof David Morgan
Convenor
31/01/2014
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