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Approved Conservation Advice for Denisonia Maculata (Ornamental Snake)

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Approved Conservation Advice for Denisonia Maculata (Ornamental Snake) This Conservation Advice was approved by the Minister on 29 Apr 2014 Approved Conservation Advice for Denisonia maculata (Ornamental Snake) (s266B of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) This Conservation Advice has been developed based on the best available information at the time this Conservation Advice was approved; this includes existing plans, records or management prescriptions for this species. Description Denisonia maculata, Family Elapidae, also known as the Ornamental Snake, is a brown, grey- brown or black snake with lighter coloured body scales often with darker streaks that grows to 50 cm in length. The head is darker brown/black with lighter flecks, distinctly barred lips, white/cream belly with dark spots/flecks on the outer edges (Cogger, 2000). Conservation Status The Ornamental Snake is listed as vulnerable. This species is eligible for listing as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act) as, prior to the commencement of the EPBC Act, it was listed as vulnerable under Schedule 1 of the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (Cwlth). The Ornamental Snake is also listed as vulnerable under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Queensland). Distribution and Habitat The Ornamental Snake is known only from within the drainage system of the Fitzroy and Dawson Rivers in Queensland (McDonald et al., 1991; Cogger et al., 1993). This species is sparsely distributed across its geographic range and the population size is unknown. However, it is not thought to have experienced range declines, although the extent of habitat clearance in the region suggests that its long term survival is threatened (DERM, 2007). The Ornamental Snake can be found on floodplains, undulating clay pans and along the margins of swamps, lakes and watercourses. It also occurs on adjoining areas of elevated ground and has been recorded in woodlands and open woodlands of coolabah, poplar box, and brigalow, and in fringing vegetation along watercourses (WWF-Australia/QMDC, 2008). The Ornamental Snake feeds almost exclusively on frogs. The Ornamental Snake occurs within the Brigalow Belt Bioregion and the Burdekin and Fitzroy Natural Resource Management Regions. The distribution of this species is associated with the “Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and co-dominant)” EPBC Act-listed threatened ecological community. Threats The main identified threat to the Ornamental Snake is a continued legacy of past broadscale land clearing and habitat degradation. The Brigalow Belt Bioregion is an area of high human impact (Covacevich et al., 1998) with much of the region modified through agricultural and urban development (McDonald et al., 1991; Cogger et al., 1993). Destruction of wetland habitat by feral pigs (Sus scrofa) is also a threat, along with the associated destruction of frog habitat and direct competition for their food source (frogs) (WWF-Australia/QMDC, 2008). The Ornamental Snake is potentially threatened by poisoning resulting from the ingestion of Cane Toads (Phillips et al., 2003). Denisonia maculata Approved Conservation Advice — Page 1 of 3 This Conservation Advice was approved by the Minister on 29 Apr 2014 Research Priorities • More precisely assess population size, distribution, ecological requirements and the relative impacts of threatening processes. • Design and implement a monitoring program in key habitat and priority conservation areas. • Monitor known populations to identify key threats. • Monitor the progress of recovery, including the effectiveness of management actions and the need to adapt them if necessary. Regional and local Priority Actions The following priority recovery and threat abatement actions can be done to support the recovery of the Ornamental Snake. Habitat Loss, Disturbance and Modification • Identify populations of high conservation priority. • Investigate formal conservation arrangements, management agreements and covenants on private land, and for crown and private land investigate inclusion in reserve tenure if possible. • Minimise adverse impacts from land use at known sites. Animal Impacts • Control introduced pests such as pigs to manage threats at known sites. • Develop and implement a management plan for the control of Cane Toads in the region. Conservation Information • Raise awareness of the Ornamental Snake and other reptiles found in the Brigalow Belt Bioregion within the local community. This list does not necessarily encompass all actions that may be of benefit to the Ornamental Snake, but highlights those that are considered to be of highest priority at the time of preparing the Conservation Advice. Existing Plans/Management Prescriptions that are Relevant to the Species • Department of the Environment and Heritage (2005). Threat abatement plan for predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission by feral pigs. Canberra. These prescriptions were current at the time of publishing; please refer to the relevant agency’s website for any updated versions. Information Sources: Cogger HG, Cameron EE,. Sadlier RA and Eggler P (1993). The Action Plan for Australian Reptiles. Canberra, ACT: Australian Nature Conservation Agency. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/action/reptiles/index.html Cogger HG (2000). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia – 6th edition. Sydney: Reed New Holland. Covacevich JA, Coupler PJ and McDonald KR (1998). Reptile diversity at risk in the Brigalow Belt, Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 42 (2):475-486. Department of the Environment and Heritage (2005). Threat abatement plan for predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission by feral pigs. Canberra. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/pig.html Denisonia maculata Approved Conservation Advice — Page 2 of 3 This Conservation Advice was approved by the Minister on 29 Apr 2014 Department of Environment and Resource Management Queensland (DERM) (2007). Ornamental Snake Denisonia maculata Species Information Sheet. Available on the Internet at: http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife- ecosystems/wildlife/az_of_animals/ornamental_snake.html McDonald KR, Covacevich JA, Ingram GJ and Couper PJ (1991). The status of frogs and reptiles. In: Ingram GJ and Raven RJ (eds). An Atlas of Queensland's Frogs, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals. Page(s) 338-345. Brisbane: Queensland Museum. Phillips BL, Brown GP and Shine R (2003). Assessing the potential impact of cane toads on Australian snakes. Conservation Biology. 17:171-175. Richardson R. DRAFT – Brigalow Belt Reptile Recovery Plan. Report to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage ans the Arts, Canberrra. WWF-Australia, Brisbane. WWF-Australia/Queensland Murray Darling Committee (2008). Ornamental Snake Information Sheet. Available on the Internet at: http://www.qmdc.org.au/publications/download/39/fact-sheets-case-studies/reptile- recovery/ornamental-snake.pdf. Denisonia maculata Approved Conservation Advice — Page 3 of 3 .
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