Bardick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bardick |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Echiopsis
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| Species: |
curta
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The Echiopsis curta is a type of snake often called the bardick. This name comes from the Aboriginal people. It's a short, venomous snake that lives on land.
Bardicks are mostly active at night. They can grow up to 57 centimeters (about 22 inches) long. These snakes are found only in Australia. You can mostly find them in three different areas in southern Australia. While they are venomous, not much is known about their bites on humans. Their numbers are going down because their homes are being destroyed. However, they are still listed as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List.
Contents
What Does a Bardick Look Like?
The bardick is a short, thick snake. It has a sturdy body and a short tail. It can grow up to 57 centimeters (about 22 inches) long.
Its scales are smooth and can be many colors. They might be light or dark grey, brown, or even reddish. The head and back are usually darker. The sides are lighter, and its belly is white or cream. It also has white spots on its lips. The bardick has short, hollow fangs. It uses these fangs to inject venom into the animals it hunts.
Where Do Bardicks Live?
Bardicks live in three main areas in southern Australia. These areas are usually dry or semi-dry. You can find them in:
- South-west Western Australia
- The Eyre Peninsula in South Australia
- Western Victoria and New South Wales
They like to live in heath and scrubland areas. They also live in open forests. In eastern Australia, they prefer mallee and Triodia grassland. Bardicks often hide under leaves, fallen trees, and other natural debris. A big problem for bardicks is that their homes are being cleared away.
What Do Bardicks Eat?
Bardicks are hunters that wait for their prey. They are mostly active at night. Their diet mainly includes:
- Lizards (about half of what they eat)
- Frogs (about a third of what they eat)
- Small mammals (a smaller part of their diet)
They also sometimes eat birds and insects. Snakes in the eastern parts of Australia eat fewer frogs than those in the west. Studies show that they eat many different kinds of these animals.
How Do Bardicks Have Babies?
Bardicks give birth to live young, which means they don't lay eggs. A mother bardick can have anywhere from 3 to 14 babies at once. On average, they have about 7 young. The baby snakes are born about 15 centimeters (6 inches) long.
Mating happens in late spring. The babies grow inside the mother over the summer. They are born in late summer and autumn. Male bardicks can start having babies when they are about 17 to 19 months old. They are usually around 29 centimeters long then. Female bardicks are ready to have babies when they are about 32 months old. They are usually around 28 centimeters long. Bigger snakes tend to have more babies. One female bardick, who was 41 centimeters long, had 13 full-sized babies inside her!
What About Bardick Venom?
Not much is known about the venom of the bardick. Some people think it might be similar to the venom of the common death adder. This idea came from a test on a dog that showed a false positive for death adder venom.
Bites on humans are very rare. In one case, a person needed to go to the hospital. They were given antivenom used for the common death adder, and it helped. Bardick venom has substances called neurotoxins. These can affect nerves. Studies show their venom is very strong against bird tissues. It's similar in strength to the venom of the tiger snake, copperhead, and inland taipan. However, even when a person is bitten badly, their nerves might not be affected in the same way.
