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Mystery Western Australian desert snake new to science
Friday, March 9, 2007

Biologists have discovered a new species of taipan, the world's most deadly snakes, living in the central desert area of Western Australia.

Lean and mean and new to science. Found in Western Australia’s remote central desert, “Scully” has been identified as a new species of Taipan, the world’s most venomous snake.

Western Australian Museum herpetologist Dr Paul Doughty said the snake’s discovery was completely unexpected. “Taipans are only found in Australia and New Guinea and this is the first new species to be described in more than 125 years,” he said. "The other two species of taipan are either on the northern and eastern coast of Australia or in the channel country of Queensland and South Australia. "Australia has the world's most deadly snakes of which taipans are the most charismatic and notorious. "The Central Ranges Taipan, or Oxyuranus temporalis is likely to be extremely venomous given its close relationship to the other two species - but we won't know just how venomous until more of them are caught and the venom tested." Dr Doughty was working on the first scientific inventory of the animal and plant species of the remote Walter James Range region in collaboration with the South Australian Museum, the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation and representatives of the Ngaanyatjarra Council and traditional owners from the Tjukurla and Warakurna communities.

The team’s discovery appeared today in the international scientific journal Zootaxa. South Australian Museum biologist Dr Mark Hutchinson caught the snake during the biodiversity survey in October last year as it was crossing a dirt track on a sunny afternoon.

During the field trip, it was tentatively identified as a western brown snake because of the similar size and colouring.

However, several weeks later WA Museum reptile collection manager Brad Maryan noticed the now preserved snake had a large, pale head similar to the coastal taipan. “Other characteristics also pointed

to an affinity to taipans and further laboratory analysis, including DNA tests, confirmed his hunch and we knew we had a new species of taipan, unknown to science,” Dr Hutchinson said. No other Central Desert Taipans have yet been caught and the single snake, held at the WA Museum, is a female which the team nicknamed "Scully" after the character from the hit television series X-Files.

“Scully” is an immature snake, about a metre long, which means scientists don’t yet know the adult size of the species, however some taipans can reach lengths of about three metres, Apart from some mammal fur in its stomach, very little is known about the species - including its ecology, behaviour and reproduction. The scientists said the biodiversity survey of the Walter James Range in Western Australia will provide baseline information needed to manage central Australia’s diminishing wildlife. The range is on the border of WA, South Australia and the Northern Territory, about 200kms northwest of Uluru. "Many of these species of wildlife have cultural importance to the Ngaanyatjarra people and biodiversity surveys to the arid heart of Australian are critically needed,” Dr Doughty said.

Portrait: Possibly a new addition to Australia’s “most deadly” list. Image courtesy the WA Museum and Claire

“Scully” is an immature snake, about a metre long, which means scientists don’t yet know the adult size of the species, however some taipans can reach lengths of about three metres,

Apart from some mammal fur in its stomach, very little is known about the species - including its ecology, behaviour and reproduction.

The scientists said the biodiversity survey of the Walter James Range in Western Australia will provide baseline information needed to manage central Australia’s diminishing wildlife.

The range is on the border of WA, South Australia and the Northern Territory, about 200kms northwest of Uluru.

"Many of these species of wildlife have cultural importance to the Ngaanyatjarra people and biodiversity surveys to the arid heart of Australian are critically needed,” Dr Doughty said.

"The central deserts and ranges are among the most biologically unknown

regions of the continent - if a large, active snake such as the Central Ranges Taipan has not been discovered until now, who knows what the next biological survey to the region will uncover?"

The Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources provided seed funding of $50,000 for the inventory, which will provide key information needed to manage the threatened wildlife of central Australia. The data will be collated into the Australian Government’s Australian National Heritage Assessment Tool (ANHAT), crucial in assisting the Government assess Australia’s most significant places for possible inclusion in the Natural Heritage List.

Snake’s eye view: WA Museum senior herpetology curator Dr Paul Doughty gets a close look at the new Taipan.

Additional funding was provided by television naturalist Harry Butler.

Media contacts:

Western Australian Museum – Caroline Lacy on 08 9212 6870 or 0417 970239.

South Australian Museum - Crispin Savage on 08 8207 7431 or 0434 603 175

Editors/chiefs of staff - Images and photographs are available from WA Museum or SA Museum. The preserved specimen of the

snake is at the WA Museum.

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