Ok all you snake lovers. I had to kill one the other day, but am having trouble identifying it. Thought at first it was either a Black Whip, or a Tree Snake, but it doesn't look quite like any of the ones in the books I have here.
Can you identify it please ? Rear half of underbelly is Grey/pink. Ivory front half, with a small Yellow/orange stripe on the lower jaw. Very black on top, and head very shiny. 5 ft.long.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Saturday 21st of April 2012 08:44:06 AM
My son is taking his kids to the reptile park today but I won't be going as have plumber here fixing all the downstairs faults. I could have taken my laptop with me and asked them to identify the snake.
OMG i have snakes where I live, have never killed one,just get out of their way, you are so brave!!!!!!!!!!! yes and i thought herpes, so had a laugh when I read happywanderer!!!
it does look like a black headed python. They grow to about 21/2 metrs. they are cream under neath with a reddish tinge in the back end.you never said where you are, they are from gladstone north. Or believe it or not it could be a green tree snake, they can vary in colour to jet black. they grow to about 1.5 mtr. midly venemous. they start from just south of sydney. cheers
have a look at the scale pattern head etc in this pic of a much younger snake see what you think snake colouring should always be ignored it varies in many species from area to area http://www.wildlifeqld.com.au/Common_Tree_Snake.html I think this is probably the same, its at the largest size I have seen but I have seen them nearly as big and picked them up. Negligable to no venom and they have back facing fangs. but at that size nearly a record. There is a northern variety also. Will check furthur though. Its the first pic that is very similar it will enlarge if you click on it
-- Edited by aj on Friday 15th of June 2012 01:47:41 PM
Huh well im a zoologist and have done herpetology and at first glance its a hard one to pin down. Where did you kill it? Are you near water? The big eye is suggestive of a non venomous type. I hannot see heat pits along the side of the head, were there circles in a line going back just below thw jaw, like large pores. If not then not a python. i will endeavour to check furthur for you as soon as I can. Was it found on the ground or up high? have an idea but wont say till sure ill have a look as soon as
read my other posts but beware- The first thing they teach in Herpetology is NEVER use the colour of a specimen to id it you need to look at things like the head shape scale distribution etc
Yeh after some checking, without counting scales or seeing clearly the top of the head scale pattern i am 95% sure your pics are of a very old green tree snake from the distinctive ridge extending along outer edges of belly and the size and shape of the eye compared to the head size and general size and shape of scaling. Its an unusual colour morph. if you see another just chase it with the broom most snakes do not return after being hassled by people
Hi aj. Sorry, I forgot to update re. Museum Identification. They said Tree Snake too.
I normally just chase snakes away, as I hate having to kill them. My friend freaks out every time I tell her I've swept another one out of the way, as I do it even with Taipans. She made her husband make me a snake wire, but I've never used that one yet.
This one however, was in a bedroom, where I was just going to have a rest, with 5 Chihuahuas already on the bed. It was at the head of the bed near the pillows, and I couldn't take a chance on it not being venomous in case either me or one of them got bitten.
