Stephens' Banded Snake - profile

Indicative distribution

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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 stephensii

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 07 Aug 2024

Description

Stephens' Banded Snake is a medium-sized partly tree-dwelling snake up to one metre long. It is brown or yellow-brown above, with a series of irregular, broad, dark crossbands. The head is black with a brown crown and a brown or cream patch on either side of the nape and the lips are barred with black and cream.

Distribution

Coast and ranges from Southern Queensland to Gosford in NSW.

Habitat and ecology

Rainforest and eucalypt forests and rocky areas up to 950 m in altitude.
Stephens' Banded Snake is nocturnal, and shelters between loose bark and tree trunks, amongst vines, or in hollow trunks limbs, rock crevices or under slabs during the day.
At night it hunts frogs, lizards, birds and small mammals.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Clearing and fragmentation of habitat.
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.
Poor knowledge of the species' habitat preferences.

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

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)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

New England Tablelands	Northeast Forest Lands	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Barrington	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Cataract	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Chaelundi	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Comboyne Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Dalmorton	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Ellerston	Predicted	Within 10 km radius of Cessnock
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Mummel Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Rocky River Gorge	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Tomalla	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Upper Manning	Known	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Sandstones	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Predicted	None
South Eastern Queensland	Woodenbong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Kerrabee	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Wollemi	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Yengo	Known	None

Images

Stephens' Banded Snake Image 1 of 3.
View slideshow.

Nature conservation

Threatened species