Denisonia devisi (Waite & Longman, 1920)

Species Common Name and Body Shape

Denisonia devisi, also known as De Vis' banded snake, has a short, thick, slightly flattened body.

Head and Eye Features

Its eyes are positioned on the top of the head, with a distinctly noticeable iris.

Dorsal Coloration and Markings

The dorsal surface of its body ranges from yellowish-brown to olive-green, marked by irregular, ragged-edged, narrow dark bands that cross the body.

Similarity to Death Adders

This species is sometimes mistaken for death adders, because both snakes have thick, banded bodies.

Distinguishing Morphological Features

The key distinguishing features are that De Vis' banded snake does not have an abruptly tapering tail, and its head is not broad and triangular.

Original Known Distribution

Originally, De Vis' banded snake was believed to only live on alluvial flats in Queensland and New South Wales.

2005 Wallpolla Islands Survey Trigger

When mammal expert Peter Menkhorst reported a sighting of a death adder in north-west Victoria, an expedition to survey the Wallpolla Islands was held in November 2005.

2005 Survey Outcome

The survey did not find a death adder, but instead recorded De Vis' banded snake for the first time in Victoria.

Murray River Range Confirmation

Further confirmation of the species' expanded range came from a report on the results of environmental water level increases at several sites along the Murray River on the Victoria-New South Wales border, which specifically noted the presence of the snake.

Wallpolla Island Park Location

The snake was found in Wallpolla Island Park, a 9,800-hectare (24,000-acre) area of floodplain vegetation located in extreme north-west Victoria, on the Victoria-New South Wales border.

Wallpolla Island Park Conservation Status

This park is a designated "Icon Site", an area of high ecological value within the Murray-Darling basin.

Dispersal Mechanism to Victoria

It is thought the species was carried south into Victoria by Darling River flooding.

Habitat Suitability in Victoria

Over time, the normally dry habitat became more suitable for the snake as water availability and biodiversity increased due to the addition of environmental water.

2021 South Australia Sighting

In late 2021, the South Australian Museum confirmed sightings of multiple De Vis' banded snakes at Chowilla Game Reserve, near Renmark in South Australia's Riverland region.

South Australia Record Significance

These sightings marked the first confirmed record of the species in South Australia.