Common Snakes

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SNAKES OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

	Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis) ~Also known as Night Tiger or Salmon Snake, growing to 1.8m slender usually slightly banded brown but can be uniform brown, often forms An “S” shape with its head and neck when aroused. Is mildly venomous (rear fanged) but not considered dangerous.
	Keelback (Tropidonophis mairii) ~ Or Freshwater snake has raised scales (keels) can have cross bands and sometimes be banana yellow. Grows up to 75cm in length non venomous. A similar species mainly found in the Julatten area is the Rough Scale Snake and is venomous.
	Common Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis punctulata) ~ It is a slender quick moving snake found in several different colours (which is why snake identification can be difficult) green, grey, black with a yellow belly (wrongly called yellow belly black snake) and even a light blue colour. These are a non venomous frog feeding snake and are reluctant to bite.
	Spotted Python (Antaresia maculosa) ~ Or Children’s Python is a small snake up to 1m grey mainly with irregular brown blotching, commonly kept in captivity, with a good temperament.
	Carpet Python (Morelia spilota) ~ Is again variable in colour and is a larger Python reaching up to 2m in size with patterned colours from black and white to black and yellow.
	Amethystine Python (Morelia amethistina) ~ Otherwise known as Scrub Python\Scrubby is our largest Python reaching up to 7.5m nearly always brown with black patches sometimes iridescent in the light. Large specimens can still be encountered, best left alone can have an inflicting bite.
	Yellow Face Whip Snake (Demansia psammophis) ~ Grows to 1m very slender long tail big prominent eyes, surrounded by a distinct comma of black and yellow, body generally cream to yellowish, belly usually green grey. Potential danger low, mildly venomous.
	Small Eyed Snake (Cryptophis nigrescens) ~ Grows to 1m slender shiny black to grey/black cream to pink even red under belly. Potentially dangerous venomous.
	Northern Death Adder (Acanthophis praelongus) ~ Quite distinct from most snakes and is short and wide for its size it sit and waits for its prey relying on its good camouflage, one of our fastest striking snakes, colours generally earthy greys and browns banded. Venomous.
	Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellalus) ~ A large venomous snake up to 4m in length fast moving usually found during the day. Body colour various brown colours light to nearly black.
	Rough Scale Snake (Tropidechis carinatus) ~ Similar species to Keelback. Grows to 1m scales raised resembling keels. Head distinct from neck. Olive to greyish with black flecks irregular bands or blotches, greenish grey underneath. Potentially dangerous, venomous.