Pale-headed Snake - profile

Indicative distribution

Loading map...

Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Hoplocephalus bitorquatus

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 22 Jun 2022

Description

The Pale-headed Snake is a medium-sized (up to 90 cm long), largely tree-dwelling snake. The back, side and tail is a uniform light brown or grey with a white or cream band on the nape, bordered by a narrow blackish bar which may be solid, or broken in the middle. The top of the head is grey, and may have a series of black spots, which are most prominent along the edge of the white nape. The lips may have black vertical bars. The belly is creamy grey sometimes with darker flecks.

Distribution

A patchy distribution from north-east Queensland to the north-eastern quarter of NSW. In NSW it has historically been recorded from as far west as Mungindi and Quambone on the Darling Riverine Plains, across the north west slopes, and from the north coast from Queensland to Sydney. A small number of historical records are known for the New England Tablelands from Glenn Innes and Tenterfield; however, the majority of records appear to be from sites of relatively lower elevation. Although the Pale-headed snake distribution is very cryptic, it now appears to have contracted to a patchy and fragmented distribution.

Habitat and ecology

The Pale-headed Snake is a highly cryptic species that can spend weeks at a time hidden in tree hollows.
Found mainly in dry eucalypt forests and woodlands, cypress forest and occasionally in rainforest or moist eucalypt forest.
In drier environments, it appears to favour habitats close to riparian areas.
Shelter during the day between loose bark and tree-trunks, or in hollow trunks and limbs of dead trees.
The diet of the Pale-headed Snake consists largely of tree frogs, although ground-dwelling frogs, lizards and small mammals are also taken.
The Pale-headed Snake is relatively unusual amongst elapid snakes in that it is well adapted to climbing trees.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Clearing and fragmentation of habitat.
Loss of hollow-bearing trees
Forestry practices which result in loss of old or dead trees.
Too frequent burning for fuel reduction or grazing management which destroys old and dead trees and removes understorey vegetation.
Illegal collection of snakes from the wild.
Disturbance to riparian habitat from the installation and maintenance of easements.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Manage fire to protect old and dead trees and maintain understorey vegetation.
Retain hollow-bearing trees as well as large, mature trees.
Manage grazing to maintain understorey vegetation.
Retain and protect stands of native vegetation, especially those with old and dead trees and along creeklines.
Establish and protect forested wildlife corridors.
Keep only captive-bred snakes in captivity and seek a reptile-keeper’s licence from the DPE.

Information sources

Cogger, H.G. (2000) Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. 6th Edition. (Reed New Holland, Sydney)
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Lower North Coast of New South Wales. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Upper North Coast of NSW: Fauna. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Threatened Species of the New England Tablelands and North West Slopes of NSW. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Range	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Talbragar Valley	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Bogan-Macquarie	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Castlereagh-Barwon	Known	None
Nandewar	Inverell Basalts	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Kaputar	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Nandewar Northern Complex	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Peel	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Armidale Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Beardy River Hills	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Binghi Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Bundarra Downs	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Deepwater Downs	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Eastern Nandewars	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Ebor Basalts	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Glenn Innes-Guyra Basalts	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Moredun Volcanics	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Nightcap	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Northeast Forest Lands	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Round Mountain	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Severn River Volcanics	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Tenterfield Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Tingha Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Wongwibinda Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Yarrowyck-Kentucky Downs	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Barrington	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Carrai Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Cataract	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Chaelundi	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Comboyne Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Dalmorton	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Ellerston	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Guy Fawkes	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Gorges	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Mummel Escarpment	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Rocky River Gorge	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Tomalla	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Upper Hunter	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Upper Manning	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Washpool	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Yuraygir	Predicted	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Inland Slopes	Predicted	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Predicted	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Sandstones	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Predicted	None
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Predicted	None
South Eastern Queensland	Woodenbong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Kerrabee	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Pittwater	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Yengo	Predicted	None