The Top Ender Magazine June July 2023 Edition

REPTILES IN THE NT
Most of the reptiles in the NT are lizards,
particularly skinks with over 100 species.
The NT has five common species of marine turtle,
including the green, flatback, olive (or pacific) ridley,
hawksbill and loggerhead and the leatherback turtle
is spotted occasionally.
Territory beaches are important breeding sites for
the leatherback, pacific ridley, flatback, hawksbill
and green turtles. There are between five and ten
freshwater tortoise species.
The saltwater (estuarine) and freshwater crocodiles
are a feature of the Top End.
While other notable reptiles include goannas,
especially the huge perentie of Central Australia, the
frilled neck lizard and the thorny devil.
Snakes are also common and diverse, with about 90
species, including 20 sea-snakes, recorded from the
Territory.
NT SNAKES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
• Oenpelli python, the endemic large snake in
western Arnhem Land
• water python which can be seen commonly at
night at Fogg Dam
• black-headed python and woma which are
beautifully marked snakes that prey largely on
other reptiles
• very dangerous snakes such as:
the mulga
king brown
western brown
taipan
the death adder
Threatened reptiles in the Territory include several of
the marine turtles, three species of goannas that are
vulnerable to cane toads and some of the skinks that are
restricted to small areas.
SNAKES
Many snake species are found throughout the Northern
Territory, including the highly venomous desert death
adder and the common and harmless children’s python.
Native snakes are protected in the NT so you should
not interfere with them without a permit. Head to the
NT Government website to read more about wildlife
permits - https://nt.gov.au/environment/animals/wildlifepermits/permits-take-interfere-with-wildlife
It is illegal to kill a snake unless it is within 100 metres
of an occupied building, or if you can prove it is
absolutely necessary to kill or injure the snake to
avoid death or injury to a person or domestic animal.
There are a number of things you can do to reduce snake
problems, including all of the following:
• keep your garden tidy and maintained by:
• cutting long grass
• clearing rubbish
• storing wood and metal sheeting elevated off the
ground
• control rats and mice around your home
• build snake-proof aviaries, fowl yards and other small
pet cages
• wear long pants and thick boots when walking in long
grass
• keep your dog and/or cat safe
• contact a registered snake removalist - you may have to
pay a fee.
Seek medical attention immediately if you are bitten by a
snake.
ENDANGERED REPTILES IN THE NT INCLUDE:
Arafura snake-eyed skink
Arnhem land gorges skink
Flatback turtle
Great desert skink
Green turtle
Gulf snapping turtle
Hawksbill turtle
Leatherback turtle
Loggerhead turtle
Oenpelli python
Plains death adder
Yellow-snouted ground
gecko
Yellow-spotted monitor
For more information about endangered reptiles in the
NT, check out - https://nt.gov.au/environment/animals/
threatened-animals
Never try to capture a snake - report it!
Contact a wildlife rescue near you
If possible, these organisations will make sure the
animal is collected, cared for and released.
DARWIN
Call Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary on
0473 992 581.
Call Wildcare Inc on 0408 885 341.
KATHERINE
Call Wildcare Inc on 0412 955 336.
Extracted from NT Government Website
nt.gov.au/environment/animals/about-animals-in-nt
JUNE/JULY 2023 57