South Western Tiger Snake - Notechis scutatus occidentalis (Peters 1861)
DANGEROUSLY VENOMOUS
The south western tiger snake is a medium-large (maximum 1.8 metres) terrestrial elapid confined to the southern part of western W.A.They have a wide flat looking head and have a large square shaped frontal shield, smooth scales, a large single temporal scale, have a mid body scale row count of 17 to 21, has a single anal plate and single sub-caudal scales.  Body coloration is variable and can be any shade of grey, green, bronze to black.

Most specimens have body banding that can be bold and distinct, faint and indistinct, to some individuals that are completely pattern less. These bands can be either olive, brown, or yellow (which can look quite spectacular). This typical body banding is probably how the tiger snake got its common name in the beginning.
Tiger snakes are highly venomous and have powerful neurotoxins and myotoxins with have been responsible for many fatalities (particularly in the earlier days). Years ago many people bitten, used to think that the brown coloration observed in their urine was blood, however this is actually myoglobin that the kidney can't filter and this can cause, renal failure. Although this species is potentially dangerous, it has a relatively quiet temperament and bites are usually only a result of accidental misadventure or from people provoking it.  

In a period in the 19th century, tiger snakes were commercially hunted and harvested for their skins and hundreds of thousands were killed across the country which threatened their existence. Snake skins these days aren't considered very durable and of course all native reptiles are now legally protected.

Habitat
Commonly occurring around or associated with water courses and swampy areas surrounded by vegetation like wet or dry sclerophyll forest, and heath type shrub lands.
They take shelter in under ground burrows particularly under thick vegetation, hollow logs and under large rocks.

Diet
Prey consists of small mammals, frogs, lizards and small birds. Some populations of tiger snakes are geographically isolated to some of our off shore placeIslands. They often have a limited selection of prey or specialize, one example being the mutton bird. This has resulted in unique size differences, characteristics and behavior specific to particular Islands.

Breeding
Mating takes place around early September and being ovoviviparous (live bearers), females can have extremely large litters and up to 90 young have been recorded.  

Comments
The south western tiger snake in my opinion would have to be the most attractive sub-species of all the tigers found in Australia. While not so commonly kept in captivity across our country, the south western tiger snake in the near future will likely become more popular among private collections.
All native reptiles remain protected in Western Australia under the
W.A Wildlife and Conservation act 1950.
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