an Interesting Sydney Notechis scutatus

One species i am fascinated by is the Sydney form of Notechis scutatus,which was once reportedly widespread in the sydney basin,but is now confined to much smaller areas,usually on the fringes of man made development.
Where other similarly large bodied species have hung onto to existence such as Pseudechis porphyriacus and Pseudonaja textilis,Notechis has dwindled and disappeared.
I love to go out and have a look when i get the chance and this one time recently in Autumn went for a search in Sydney north sandstone area,which records show they turn up sometimes,and i found this guy. I was very surprised by the colour variation which is a very dark chocolate brown and creme underneath,so i actually called up some herp photography people to come meet me and take some pics.
Ken Griffiths is an amazing photographer and has published some great books and field guides,he took tese two photos i thought id share of this interesting tiger.

| an Interesting Sydney Notechis scutatus 657

an Interesting Sydney Notechis scutatus 657

an Interesting Sydney Notechis scutatus 655

Thanks Ken for capturing some great shots

Have not seen 1 like that before Rob, is this "normal" for Sydney scutatus? Being a scutatus fan I like very much. Cheers

hey nigel,yes ive seen your a notechis fan with pits full of tigery goodness Very Happy

this is a snake you would truly appreciate with the amount you would have seen in captivity.

this is defiantly not your normal looking sydney tiger,from what ive seen and pictures i have seen of tigers from in and around sydney, they are usually banded and have the appearance that would justify the first white settlers calling them "tiger snakes". If first settlements where in other parts of the country who knows what name they would have called them if they saw mainly dark unbanded specimens??
anyway i showed this pic to Barry Goldsmith and he found one similar down on the mornington peninsula that was chocolate brown and creme underneath.
Just goes to show why they are an exciting species to discover in the wild or breed in captivity cause you never know what new colour variation you may come across.

heres another pic

an Interesting Sydney Notechis scutatus 668

Hi Rob,

I have seen many like that in Melbourne (eastern suburbs). I miss tigers these days

Cheers,
Scott

I have this chocolate/creme looking tiger-she never seems to be happy
an Interesting Sydney Notechis scutatus November27th201169

oh yes thats choccy plus its banded,and she likes to flair yea some do and some dont

Hi scott,yea you would of seen your fair share of tigers in melbourne,and so many different types, but your up north arent you? and you dont keep any in your collection now?

Also have this 1 a male, will put him over the girl above this season, might end up with god knows what.
an Interesting Sydney Notechis scutatus January7th20122

an Interesting Sydney Notechis scutatus January7th20122

In regard to the animal in your picture Rob, you think it is an older animal? colours/patterns fade with age? looks very clean. Cheers

yes it could have been an old faded tiger it was a good size and in a very secure location on west head where you would expect the possibility of a long life.
many also seem to change colour and or banding half way down there bodies so the back half looks like it belongs on a different snake than the front half !

Hallo,
do you know someone who sells Notechis scutatus,
please send us an e-mail
Vasilev@gmx.de
We are searching for long time.

Hi rob,

Yeah I still have orange unbandeds I just miss seeing a heap in the scrub.

Cheers
Scott

» Notechis scutatus scutatus breeding (Mt Gambier)
» Aspidelaps scutatus scutatus - In Situ
» Sydney Red's Death Adder [A.antarcticus]
» Not even venomous, but interesting
» Interesting Aspidites Ramsayi