This guide can be used to assist in the identification Lizards of snakes in the Central/Alice Springs Region of the VariousspeciesoflizardarefoundintheCentre.The Northern Territory. Snakes are incredibly variable in mostcommontypeoflizard,whichmaybeunwelcome colour, even within species. Any handling of snakes aroundyourhome,istheMonitorLizard,alsoknownasa Common or confirmation of identification should be left to the Goanna.MonitorLizardshavesharpclawsandteethand experts. someareverylargeandpowerful.Largeranimalscanalso Snakes and Lizards usetheirtailstodeliveraheftyblow.Whilsttheselizards For snake enquires or removals please contact: arenotvenomous,theycaninflictnastywoundsand of Central Australia 1800 453 210 prey on small pets. If you encounter a lizard and it is not presentingaproblemtoyou,simplyletitgoonitsway. Incasesoflarger,perhapsthreateninglizards,donottry What to do if you see a snake andcatch,cornerorkilltheanimal. • Stay calm. Contact 1800 453 210 for further advice. • Keep children and pets away from the area. • Maintain a safe distance from the snake. • Watch the snake. • Ifyoucanconfidentlyidentifythesnakeasharmless, Phil Mangion Photo: leave it be. • Ifyouareunsureoftheidentificationofthesnake, take a photograph. Call: 1800 453 210 How to keep snakes away Max. Length: 2.5m • Keepyouryardclutterfree.Clutterprovideswarm, Perentie Varanus giganteus,Longneck,solidbuildwithalongtaperingtail, typicallybrowncolouredwithlargecreamspottedmarkings. dark areas where snakes like to hide. • Avoid tall growing grass and dense shrubs; unkempt grassanddensevegetationprovideshidingplaces Mangion Phil Photo: for snakes. • Undertakeregularpestcontrol,aspests,suchas rats,provideafoodsourceforsnakes. • Remove ground level water sources that snakes may be drawn to drink or swim in. Water also provides a habitatforfrogs,animportantfoodsourceforsome Max. Length: 55cm species of snakes. Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticeps,wide,lowbody,spiky-lookingscales aroundlowerjawandloweredgesofthebody,triangleshapedhead, • Patch up any holes; by blocking all access points into colour is variable. yourhome,snakeswillbeunabletoenter.Carefully inspectyourpropertyandifyounoticeanyholes,no Vas Photo: Gary www.nt.gov.au matterhowsmall,patchthemup. • Use snake and rodent mesh. Household pets like chickens,birds,rabbitsandguinea-pigsareallfood items for snakes. Keep your pets safe by lining their cages with snake and rodent mesh. Max. Length: 50cm Delma sp. Note:thisisaleglesslizard,earholespresent, broadfleshytongue,colourisvariable. Photo: Brendan Schembri Brendan Photo: Photo: Phil Mangion Photo: Snake bite first aid • Stay calm. • Minimise mobility. • Call000 Max. Length: 1.5m Max. Length: 80cm • Apply pressure to the wound. A pressure Yellow-faced Whip Snake Demansia psammophis,quickmoving,whiplike bandageshouldbeappliedfirmlytothe tail,darktearshapeundereye. entirelimborwoundarea,butnotsotight thatitstopsbloodflow. Photo: Vas Photo: Gary Photo: Photo: • Splint limb. Tom Parkin Tom Snake facts • Snakevenomisdesignedtokillprey,not Max. Length: 2.7m people. Snakes are scared of people and Western Brown Snake Pseudonaja mengdeni, defined scales, commonly has orange spots on underbelly, colour and pattern can vary greatly. Two of Woma Python Aspidites ramsayi - brown-reddish-tan and cream bands, only bite out of fear. Most bites occur the most common colour forms shown above. heavy bodied. Most active at night, eats birds, mammals, reptiles, ground whenpeopletrytocorner,captureorkill dwelling. snakes. Pick up the phone, not the snake. • Snakesplayanessentialroleinthe Photo: Matt Summerville Matt Photo: Photo: Vas Photo: Gary environment.Theyhelpkeepratandmice populationsatbay.Havingthemaround your property may deter pests from your home. • IntheNorthernTerritory,permitsare requiredtokeepsnakes.Theymustnotbe Max. Length: 2.5m acquiredfromthewild. Max. Length: 2.5m Mulga Snake (King Brown) Pseudechis australis,large,definedscales,heavy bodied,colourcanvarygreatly;typicallycreamyyellowtoblackincolour. Centralian Carpet Python Morelia spilota bredli,definedheadandjaw, orangetobrowncolourationwithcreamandblackpatterning. Key to snake identification Photo: Brendan Schembri Brendan Photo: Photo: Brendan Schembri Brendan Photo: Non- Eats Climbing venomous Mammals Mildly Eats Most active venomous Reptiles in the day Highly Eats Ground venomous Frogs dwelling Eats Eats Most active Insects Birds in the night Max. Length: 1m Max. Length: 1.2m Curl Snake Suta suta,ochre/orangecolouration,darkerheadandneck,solid Stimsons Python Antaresia stimsoni,darkersplotches(mottledcolour), build. definedheadandjaw,lighterunderbelly,creamtodarkbrownincolour..