Dugite

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=112 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC;" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Pilbara Pythons</B></div> <div> <A HREF="home.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pilbara Pythons Reptiles">Pilbara Pythons Reptiles</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="about.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us">About Us</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="tooboxtalks.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tool Box Talks">Tool Box Talks</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="pythons.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pythons">Pythons</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="elapids.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Elapids">Elapids</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="monitors.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Monitors">Monitors</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="dragons.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dragons">Dragons</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="geckos.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Geckos">Geckos</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="skinks.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Skinks">Skinks</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="amphibians.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Amphibians">Amphibians</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="turtles.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Turtles">Turtles</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="forum.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Forum">Forum</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="videos.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pilbara Python Videos">Pilbara Python Videos</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="caresheets.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Care Sheets">Care Sheets</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="herphelp.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Herp Help">Herp Help</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="kidscorner.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kids Corner">Kid's Corner</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="stock.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Available Stock">Available Stock</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="gallery.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Gallery">Photo Gallery</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links">Links</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="licence.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reptile Licence Application">Reptile Licence Application</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="contact.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us">Contact Us</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="stevesprints.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Steves Quality Prints">Steve's Quality Prints</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="shipping.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shipping Details">Shipping Details</A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=368 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="229" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="71"><div> <A HREF="spottedmulga.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spotted Mulga">BACK</A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div> <A HREF="elapids.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Elapids">ELAPIDS</A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div> <A HREF="westbrown.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Western Brown">NEXT</A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="703" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 282 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="185354140.jpg" border=0 width="340" height="276" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><div> <B>The Dugite   </B><B>Pseudonaja affinis </B><B>( Gunther 1872)</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> HIGHLY VENOMOUS</div> <bR> <div> The Dugite is a member of the brown snake family of which there are 7 recognized species. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Verdana" >They are a relatively large (maximum size 1.8 metres) </FONT>terrestrial <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Verdana" >elapid and are often encountered in the south western country side and are normally </FONT>diurnal.</div> <div> They are extremely variable in coloration and can be all shades of olive and browns. Specimens often have speckling of darker pigment through partial areas of their body scales this can vary from being sparse, clustered to form patchy areas and sometimes be to a degree that they over ride the overall body base colouration and in these cases they can appear extremely dark or nearly completely  black. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 310 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="dugitemap.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dugite Map"><IMG SRC="1f2b54240.jpg" border=0 width="340" height="292" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><bR> <div> The ventral area is normally of whitish grey to light brown with scattered blotches of orange colouration throughout.</div> <bR> <div> As far as scalation data goes, this species has a mid body scale row count of 19 and in odd cases, 17 to 21, 190 to 231 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0099FF" FACE="Verdana" >ventrals</FONT>, has a divided anal plate, divided <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0099FF" FACE="Verdana" >subcaudals </FONT>with a total ranging from 50 to70, a single<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0099FF" FACE="Verdana" > temporal scale</FONT> and lack<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0099FF" FACE="Verdana" > sub-oculars.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Generally speaking the Dugite is a relatively shy snake and prefers to retreat when disturbed. Sometimes without too much propagation however (or if harassed), they can vigorously defend themselves and typical of browns snake, display the classic “S” pose and usually hissing before delivering an accurate strike. </div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 113 WIDTH="693"><div> Dugites should be treated with extreme caution as bites have resulted in fatalities.</div> <bR> <div> There are two recognized sub species of the Dugite, <I>P.a. exilis</I> which is only found on Rottnest Island W.A and <I>P.A tanneri</I> which inhabits some Island of the South western coast of  W.A. </div> <bR> <div> Both sub species are generally of darker colouration and are of smaller maximum size. <I>P.a exilis</I> is thought to be potentially threatened due to their limited distribution.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 282 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="185454140.jpg" border=0 width="340" height="276" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <U><IMG SRC="185554140.jpg" border=0 width="340" height="276" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 389 WIDTH="693"><div> <B><U>Habitat </U></B></div> <div> Typical of most brown snake species, the Dugite occupies a variety of habitat niches and highly adaptable. They inhabit semi arid woodlands, coastal sparsely vegetated sand dunes, wet sclerophyll forests, shrubby heath land and rock laden areas. They shelter in ground burrow, beneath tree roots, hollow logs, in piles of rocks and are often found under discarded piles of corrugated iron.  </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Food</U></B></div> <div> They prey upon small mammals (particularly mice), reptiles including skinks and other snakes and it is very likely, small birds if the opportunity presents itself. </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Breeding</U></B></div> <div> Mating in the wild normally occurs around early September through to late November and male combat has been observed. All brown snakes are <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0099FF" FACE="Verdana" >oviparous </FONT>and sometime after mating the female will eventually deposit and leave to self incubate up to 30 eggs, which will hatch after about 65 days. When physical and environmental factors have been favorable, they have been known on occasions to produce two clutches in a given year.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Comments</U></B></div> <div> The Dugite is not a species commonly kept in private collections across Australia. This is simply because up until recently, they were not easily legally obtainable and outside of the relatively few kept by a few individuals here in W.A, still remain rare in  private collections outside of W.A.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Native reptiles in W.A they remain protected under the W.A Wildlife Conservation Act (1950)</B></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#444444 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="693"><div> FOR AVAILABLE STOCK - <A HREF="dugiteforsale.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dugite"><I><B>Please click here.</B></I></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div>    <STYLE type="text/css">  </STYLE>   </div> </td> </tr></table></body>