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SNAKES OF THE SUNSHINE COAST

Snakes are generally harmless if left alone but if startled or provoked they will readily defend themselves from the threat.

I do not encourage or condone interfering with wild snakes and wildlife in general, but I do believe education and understanding

is the best defence for any situation. Snakes of the Sunshine Coast posters available to purchase in A2 or A3 in our Store.

NON-VENOMOUS SPECIES

Sunshine coast snakes WM.1.jpeg

VENOMOUS SPECIES

NON-VENOMOUS SPECIES

Coastal Carpet Python

(Morelia spilota mcdowelli)

The most commonly encountered snake here on the Sunshine Coast. These pythons are a moderate - heavy build an are highly variable in colour and patterns reaching an average size of 2.5m but can reach upwards of 3-3.5m! Usually very reluctant to bite if left alone, but a good sized python can cause some damage. 

Very skilled climber and most common snake found in roof cavities. Coastal carpet pythons typically consume mammals(rodents, possums, flying foxes, etc.) also birds, frogs an other reptiles.

Spotted Python

(Antaresia maculosa)

Average adult size is 75cm-1m but up to 1.5m. Nocturnal and thought to be restricted to certain regions such as Mt Tinbeerwah,  Mt Ninderry and the Glasshouse Mountains.

Fawn or pale-brown ground colour with contrasting dark, chocolatey-brown mottled and blotched and colour, mostly cream on the underside.

Infrequently - rarely encountered, consumes small mammals, birds and reptiles.

Common Tree Snake

(Dendrelaphis punctulatus)

Usually very reluctant to bite and will emit a strong odour if threatened. Other common names are green tree snake, tree snake, yellow-bellied black snake and grass snake. Average length of adults is 1.2m but have been known to grow up to 2m! A very slender thin snake with long, thin tail and large prominent eyes. Highly variable in colour ranging from green, blue, olive, yellow, brown and black! These snakes are very alert and swift moving. Commonly encountered all over the Sunshine Coast often found in homes, suburban yards & parks. Common tree snakes feed on frogs and skinks but are known to also consume fish.

Keelback

(Tropidonophis mairii)

Usually very reluctant to bite and will emit a strong odour if threatened. Also known as the freshwater snake, water snake and swamp tiger. These snakes can be found across the entire Sunshine Coast region, usually found in suburbs near creeks, swamps, waterways and moist regions. Average adult size is 60-70cm but can reach up 90cm. Colours variable but typically found in shades of grey, brown or olive with irregular, broken cross-bands or flecks of darker and lighter shades of brown and cream, a distinct feature on this snake is the raised longitudinal ridge, giving the snake a keeled appereance. This particular species is often noted for itโ€™s ability to successfully consume the toxic cane toad, will also consume frogs, lizards, fish and tadpoles.

VENOMOUS SPECIES

Brown Tree Snake
(Boiga irregularis) mildly venomous

Bites can cause localised pain, swelling with possible headaches and nausea, generally considered minimal risk to all except young children. Keeping in mind every snake bite should be treated seriously and medical advice should be sought. Also known as night tiger, dolls eye snake, eastern brown tree snake. Average adult size is 1.2-1.4m but can reach up to 2m. Strictly a nocturnal snake, very skilled climber and can be found across most of the Sunshine Coast. Large eyes with vertical pupils, colours vary from brown to reddish-brown and orange. Brown tree snakes consume birds, bird eggs, frogs, reptiles and small mammals.

Bandy-Bandy
(Vermicella annulata) weakly venomous

Average size of adults are 50-60cm but up to 90cm. Nocturnal burrowing snake, found beneath the soil surface, under stumps, rocks & logs. Infrequently encountered but typically seen out after rain, hunting for its prey; blind snakes. the Bandy-Bandy has a unique defensive display; holding braced loops of its body off the ground when threatened.

It's a smooth scaled glossy snake, with distinctive and sharply contrasting black and white stripes wrapping the entire way around the snake.

Southern Dwarf Crowned Snake

(Cacophis krefftii) weakly venomous

Average size of adults are 25-35cm. Small secretive nocturnal snake, rarely encountered an often victim to roaming cats.

Dark steely-grey to black above, crown is a narrow cream or white collar on nape of neck which extends forward along sides of head, Southern dwarf crowned snakes crown is thinner in comparison to the White Crowned Snake.

A ground-dwelling species hunting small skinks, lizards and their eggs in the leaf litter and ground debris.

White Crowned Snake
(Cacophis harriettae) weakly venomous

Average length of adults is 30-40cm. Secretive nocturnal snake, sheltering by day under moist litter, compost, mulch, rocks and logs. Can be encountered right through the Sunshine Coast region feeding on skinks, lizards & their eggs, often victim to roaming cats.

Dark steely-grey to black above, crown is a white or pale yellowish band on nape of neck which extends forward along sides of head to meet the snout.

Golden Crowned Snake

(Cacophis squamulosus) mildly venomous

Average size is 50cm but up to 90cm. Nocturnal and mostly encountered in rainforests and moist regions, often seen crossing the road in the hinterland, another common victim to roaming cats.

Dark brown to grey above with a fawn or brassy yellow stripe across the snout, around the face and along, but not joining across the back of the head.

During the day it shelters under stones, logs and leaf litter, emerging at night to feed. It searches for sleeping lizards by scent, taking them from their night-time retreats. It may also eat frogs and blind snakes.

Yellow-faced Whip Snake

(Demansia psammophis) mildly venomous

Bites are potentially dangerous to small children and pets, bites may cause localised swelling, redness and pain to area and limb of bite site. Average length of adults is 65-75cm but have been known to grow over 90cm. Very slender snake with long, thin tail and large prominent eyes. Typically found in a pale olive, bluish grey or brown, often with a rusty flush on the the front-third of the body. Distinct facial feature with a dark comma-shaped marking curving back below the eye. These snakes are very alert, with good vision and swift moving. Commonly encountered all over the Sunshine Coast often found in suburban yards & parks. Typically consumes small lizards, frogs and their eggs.

Lesser Black Whip Snake

(Demansia vestigiata) Potentially dangerously venomous

Average adult length of 1.3m, this species is only found in a few pockets of bush land around the Sunshine Coast and very rarely sighted or encountered.

Swift-moving, alert, diurnal snake. Good vision, active hunter; consuming mammals and reptiles

Slender body with long finely tapering tail. Large prominent eye. Colour rich dark brown through reddish brown to dark grey, often reddish-brown flush towards tail. Body has pattern of black and white flecks or spots caused by dark and light markings on individual scales. Top of head usually has dark brown spots & flecks, and narrow, pale edge around eye. Belly greenish-grey.

Eastern Small Eyed Snake

(Cryptophis nigrescens) highly venomous

Treat this species with extreme cautionย bites have caused 1 human fatality, and will readily bite and thrash about if handled or threatened. SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION. Average length of adults is 50cm but up 1m. Small snake with small black eyes, glossy black to dark grey with pink or cream belly occasionally with dark spots. Regularly misidentified as a red-bellied black snake by the general public, encountered across the entire Sunshine Coast region. Secretive nocturnal snake, sheltering by day under sheets of bark, sheets of tin, wood piles, rocks and logs. Diet consists of skinks an other small reptiles, their eggs an occasionally frogs.

Red-Belly Black Snake

(Pseudechis porphyriacus) highly venomous - extremely dangerous

This species needs to beย treated with caution. SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION if bitten. Average length of adults is 1.5m but up to 2m. Uniform glossy black along entire upper body, belly has a pink flush with the red becoming bright and prominent moving from the belly along the flank to the sides, often found with a brown nose and jaw. Active by day but has been found on hot nights, favors wet habitats; rainforests, flood plains, swamps and suburbs near bodies of freshwater. Usually a reclusive, shy snake that will flatten out an inflate its body in attempt to intimidate if threatened. Primarily feeds on frogs, other reptiles(including other snakes) an occasionally small mammals.

Eastern Brown Snake

(Pseudonaja textilis) highly venomous - extremely dangerous

Treat with extreme caution will readily bite if threatened or handled, SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION if bitten, accounts for more fatalities than any other species. Average length of adults is 1.4m but up to 2m. Highly variable in colors ranging from pale tan, bright orange, russet, brown, grey and black, belly usually cream, yellow or orange with orange spots; can be found with cross banding(more common in juveniles). Active by day but has been found on hot nights, can be found right across the sunshine coast region. This is the 2nd most toxic land snake in the world(in reference to the Ld50 chart). Primarily feeds on rodents an small mammals, but occasionally other reptiles(including other snakes) and frogs.

Rough-Scaled Snake

(Tropidechis carinatus) highly venomous - extremely dangerous

If encountered treat with extreme caution has caused human fatalities, SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION if bitten. This Species will flatten out an inflate its body in attempt to intimidate if threatened and readily strike if provoked further. Average size of adults are 70cm but up to 1m. Active both day and night, Its diet consists mainly of frogs and skinks. Usually encountered in moist regions specifically scrubs adjacent to swamps and lagoons, and creek-side vegetation but, has been found up and down the sunshine coast region. This species is often confused with the harmless Keelback snake.

Marsh Snake

(Hemiasphis signata) mildly venomous - potentially dangerous

A small to medium-sized snake with distinctive white markings on the side of the head, and a very dark colour to the under-side of the body, length up to 75 cm. Olive to brown above with a pale stripe from behind the eye to the neck and another pale stripe on the upper lip. The underside is black or dark grey. Occasional individuals may be black over most of the body, particularly in rainforest habitats. Mainly diurnal, but becomes semi-nocturnal in warm weather. Its diet consists mainly of frogs and skinks. Found in moist areas such as wet forests, scrubs adjacent to swamps and lagoons, and creek-side vegetation.

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Stephens' banded snake

(Hoplocephalus stephensii) highly venomous - extremely dangerous

If encountered treat with extreme caution has caused human fatalities, SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION. This Species will flatten out an inflate its body in attempt to intimidate if threatened and readily strike if provoked further. Restricted to our hinterland regions and habitats alike, it’s a nocturnal species that is largely arboreal (skilled climber) with a total length of around 1-1.2m.

Tiger Snake

(Notechis scutatus) highly venomous - extremely dangerous

If encountered treat with extreme caution has caused human fatalities, SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION. This Species will flatten out an inflate its body in attempt to intimidate if threatened and readily strike if provoked further. Average size of adults are 1m but up to 1.3m. Active both day and night, thought to be restricted to the southern end of the Sunshine Coast.

Red-naped Snake

(Furina diadema) weakly venomous

Average size is 40cm. Rarely encountered in the northern, southern & western edges of the Sunshine Coast.

The red-naped snake has small black eyes, a shiny black head, and neck. Its head appears to be partially flattened. On the upper lip is a streak of white. On the back of the neck there is a well defined patch of orange or red in the shape of a diamond, crescent or oval. The belly can be either a cream colour or white. The remainder of the body is a red-brown colour.

Consuming skinks, small lizards & their eggs.

Common Death Adder

(Acanthophis antarcticus) highly venomous - extremely dangerous

The common death adder has a broad flattened, triangular head and a thick body with bands of red, brown and black with a grey, cream or pink belly. It is thought to be restricted to the Maleny region, the Kenilworth and Connondale Ranges now due to urbanization and introduced species (cane toads).

An ambush predator that is rarely ever encountered or seen on the Sunshine Coast regions.

*Please note this list does not include sea snake species*

*NO SNAKES WERE HARMED IN ANYWAY WHILE BEING PHOTOGRAPHED*

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