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Australian Reptiles You Don™T Have Yet Pets of Th The North American Veterinary Conference — 2006 ______________________________________________________________________________________________ AUSTRALIAN REPTILES YOU DON’T HAVE Pythons, Amethystine Python, and Diamond YET: PETS OF THE FUTURE? Pythons), Liasis (Children’s, Spotted, Water, Olive, and Stimson’s Pythons), and Chondropython (Green Python). All are kept in captivity in Australia, Bob Doneley, BVSc, FACVSc (Avian Health) and their popularity as pets is rising. All are West Toowoomba Vet Surgery carnivorous; some are terrestrial and others are Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia semi-arboreal. Although Dutch explorers had visited the Australian • Colubridae (Colubrid Snakes). These are the continent in the1600 and 1700s, it was not until Joseph solid-toothed and rear-fanged snakes. Other than Banks, the noted British botanist, accompanied Captain Australia, they are the dominant snakes throughout James Cook RN on his voyage of discovery along the the world. They include the Tree Snakes, east coast of Australia in 1770 that Australia’s unique Freshwater Snake, Mangrove Snakes, and Water flora and fauna was revealed to the outside world. Snakes. Although the Brown Tree Snake is An insatiable demand for the unusual saw the shooting, aggressive and venomous, it is not regarded as collection, trapping, and exportation of Australian wildlife dangerous to humans. These snakes are oviparous. to collectors in Europe and America. It was not until 1960 that the Australian Government finally realized the • Elapidae (Elapid Snakes). These front-fanged necessity of banning this trade. Since then, despite venomous snakes include some of the deadliest pressure from both home and abroad, Australia has snakes in the world— of the eleven most dangerous steadfastly refused to allow the exportation of its wildlife; snakes in the world, eight are Australian elapids. the only exceptions are household pets (and even then They may be oviparous, viviparous, or there are restrictions on what qualifies) and animals ovoviviparous. This family includes the Taipan, the exported for scientific purposes, eg, exchanges between Red-Bellied Black Snake, the Common Brown zoos. Snake, the Death Adder, and many others. In other words, Australia has not legally exported any Although not all elapids are considered dangerous of its wildlife for the last 45 years. Nevertheless, many of to humans, their keeping as pets should be strongly Australia’s native animals have appeared in the pet trade discouraged. If they are kept, supplies of an around the world, especially in the last 20 years. appropriate antivenene should be available in a Frequent prosecutions of fauna smugglers, reported nearby hospital. almost monthly in the Australian press, have done little to curb the illegal trade in birds, reptiles, and mammals. • Laticaudidae (Sea Kraits). These are semi- (Australia is hardly the blameless victim in this trade— terrestrial, coming ashore to lay eggs and forage for exotic birds and reptiles are at the same time pouring food. They are generally placid and easy to handle, into Australia at a tremendous rate.) but are venomous and should be handled with care. The bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) is the most They are rare in Australian waters, being more obvious example of an Australian reptile gaining commonly found further north. popularity in the international pet trade. But the bearded dragon is just one of just over 600 species of reptiles in Australia. This paper will introduce the clinician to just a • Hydrophiidae (Sea Snakes). The sea snakes are few of these. closely related to the terrestrial elapids. Unlike the Sea Kraits they do not come to shore to lay eggs; they are viviparous, giving birth to live young at sea. SNAKES They live in the tropical waters of northern Australia There are seven families of snakes found in Australia: and are only rarely encountered. They are considered dangerous. • Acrochordidae (File Snakes). These are aquatic snakes, found in northern Australia. Their skin is LIZARDS coarse, enabling them to get a grip on fish, their Australia is home to five families of lizards: main prey. They are viviparous. Their scales are uniform around the body; there is no distinction • Gekkonidae (Geckoes). Geckos are found in between ventral and dorsal scales. warmer areas of Australia. There are 60 species found here. They are mainly nocturnal, and may be • Typhlopidae (Blind Snakes). These are harmless terrestrial or arboreal. All are oviparous, usually snakes, feeding on termites and ants. They are laying 2 eggs per clutch. oviparous. When handled they release a strong, pungent odor. Their eyes are reduced to small dark • Pygopodidae (Pygopids or Legless Lizards). This spots. is the only reptile species endemic to Australia; thirty species have been recorded so far. They lack • Boidae (Pythons). There are 10 species of python forelimbs and the hindlimbs are represented by a in Australia, found in the genera Aspidites (Womas scaly flap above the vent. An external ear opening is and Black-Headed Pythons), Morelia (Carpet 1612 Exotics — Reptiles and Amphibians ______________________________________________________________________________________________ not always present. Most species are insectivorous; • Carettochelydidae (Pig-nosed Turtle). Related all are oviparous. distantly to the soft-shelled turtles of Africa, Asia, and North America, this species is found only in • Varanidae (Monitors or Goannas). Twenty-five freshwater streams and waterholes in Papua New species are found in Australia, representing 80% of Guinea and isolated areas of the Northern Territory. the world’s population. They are diurnal, hunting for The carapace is covered with a soft, pitted skin, it live prey or carrion. All are oviparous. has flippers similar to a marine turtle, and its nostrils are located at the end of a prominent fleshy • Agamidae (Dragon Lizards). This family includes proboscis. It feeds on snails, fruits and small fish. the Bearded Dragon, the Water Dragons, the Frilled lizard, and many others. They are found throughout • Chelidae (Freshwater Turtles). Australia has fives Australia, and their popularity is growing throughout genera of freshwater turtles: Chelodina; the world. They are usually omnivorous and Pseudemydura; Rheodytes; Emydura; and Elseya. oviparous. These are aquatic/semi-aquatic carnivorous turtles, distinguished from marine turtles by their jointed • Scincidae (Skinks). This is the largest and most limbs and clawed, webbed feet. Their popularity as diverse group of Australian lizards. There is a wide pets in Australia is rising with the relaxation of variation between species, with no single feature government regulations on the keeping of native shared between them all. Most have autotomy— reptiles. the ability to drop their tail when necessary— and have smooth skin. They may be insectivorous or CROCODILES omnivorous, and may be oviparous or viviparous. Australia is also home to two fearsome reptilian predators: TURTLES Australia does not have any native terrestrial • Crocodylus porosus (Estuarine or Saltwater tortoises; the species found here include marine turtles Crocodile). This crocodile is found throughout the (almost wholly aquatic, coming ashore only to lay eggs), coastal regions of northern and northeastern and the semi-aquatic freshwater turtles. These turtles Australia. It generally inhabits coastal streams and are from four families: swamps, but has been found both well inland and well out to sea. Once hunted heavily for its hide, • Cheloniidae (Marine Turtles except Leathery governmental protection has seen its numbers Turtle). Loggerheads, Green Turtles, Hawkesbill increase dramatically. Although it feeds mainly on Turtles, Pacific Ridleys, and Flatback Turtles are crustaceans, fish, birds, mammal and other reptiles, found in the warm tropical waters of Australia’s each year there are reports of attacks on humans, north. Coming ashore each year to lay eggs in many fatal. shallow holes on the beach, they have become a popular tourist attraction. • Crocodylus johnstoni (Freshwater Crocodile). This slightly smaller crocodile inhabits freshwater • Dermochelyidae (Leathery Turtle). This turtle is rivers, creeks, and billabongs. Like the Saltie, it found in all Australian coastal waters, but is more feeds mainly on crustaceans, but unlike the Saltie it common on the northeastern coast, in warm tropical rarely attacks humans. waters. It rarely breeds in Australia, preferring the warmer waters of the Solomon Islands and Recommended Reading Malaysia. 1. Cogger HD. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia,. 5th ed. Reed Books, Australia, 1996. 1613.
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