Here is a few instances indicating hibernation occurring.
During mid winter 1975, Mr. Garry Webb, located an aggregation of two adult Yellow-faced Whip Snakes (Demansia psammophis) and one adult Red-naped Snake (Furina diadema) at Glenbrook N.S.W. (lat 33? 46? S, long 150? 36' E). The aggregation was located on top of a hill in dry, rocky sclerophyll forest. The three snakes were discovered at roughly 10.00am. (local time) and the weather conditions were described as being simply cool, dry and mild. The aggregation was located under a single well embedded sandstone rock measuring approximately 60cm X 90cm X 15cm deep. The soil underneath the rock was dry, sandy and loamy.The rock was not on, or immediately adjacent to any outcrop, simply being sited in an open section of ground in bushland. The three snakes when discovered were coiled up in a group, in a state of apparent torpidity.
During early May 1977, the author located an aggregation of twenty nine Small-eyed Snakes (Cryptophis nigrescens) at Darkes Forest N.S.W. (lat 34? 11' S, long 150? 56? E). The aggregation was discovered at 10.00am. and the weather at the time was cool, calm and sunny, with an average air temperature of around 14?C.
The local habitat was a mixture of sclerophyll forest and farmland and the aggregation was located adjacent to the remains of a demolished house. The remains of the house consisted of a few large slabs of concrete, blocks of wood, sheets of corrugated iron etc., in a partially cleared patch of land. The aggregation was located in a pile of approximately twenty sheets of corrugated iron. The snakes were not all located together, but in clusters ranging from one to four individuals sometimes with more than one cluster between two sheets of corrugated iron. The sheets were positioned directly on top of one another in a tight fitting manner, with only limited amounts of debris between each sheet of tin. The pile of corrugated iron was sitting on moist rich dark soil, typical of the local area. No snakes were located under the bottom sheet of the iron. The regions between each sheet of iron were generally slightly moist, and contained no other snakes besides the twenty nine Small-eyed Snakes. The snakes ranged from juvenile to large adult, with the majority of the snakes being adult. The snakes appeared to be inactive and in a state of hibernation when found.
During early winter 1979, Mr. David Cary located an aggregation of eight adult Small-eyed Snakes (Cryptophis nigrescens) at Kangaroo Valley N.S.W. (lat 34? 45? S, long 150? 33? E). The aggregation was located at midday and the weather at the time was cold and raining lightly, with an average air temperature of around 15?C. The aggregation was located half way up a moist, rocky sclerophyll forest hillside with an easterly aspect. The snakes were located underneath a very large well concealed sandstone rock, covered with roughly 9cms of leaf litter. The rock was well shaded by shrubbery and had the approximate dimensions of 120cm x 120cm X 25cm deep. The rock was on fairly dry, loose, sandy soil. Adjacent to the rock was a cliff face roughly 3m high, with the rock being situated on top of the cliff. The eight adult snakes were in a single cluster, and in a state of torpidity when found.
Clearly states that they were inactive and in a state of torpur.
Season shows this to be winter with low temperatures.
This clearly indicates them to be hibernating to me and those experienced herpers that wrote the paper must have thought the same thing. And I would think that those researching this study and doing actual field work would be better judges on this subject then any of us here dont you think? NSW NPWS also says on their website that Australian snakes hibernate.
