Can someone please tell me what this snake is as we have allot of kids hear and are worried about what kind it is. Found about 5 mins ago. It is a baby but where there are baby's there are bigger snakes. Please help.
Phil
White-crowned snake.
The white-crowned snake is dark grey above, with a light grey belly and a broad white band across neck, sweeping forward around the side of the head and across the snout, creating the ‘crown’. The crown surrounds the black scales on the top of the head. It is considered to be one of the most common snakes in Brisbane, even occurring in the inner city. It inhabits compost heaps and damp areas of gardens. A similar species, the dwarf crowned snake, has a thinner white band around the top of the head and is slightly shorter in length (i.e. 0.35m).
Average length: 0.4m
WARNING: VENOMOUS. Not dangerous to humans Download a fact sheet on crowned snakes from Queensland Museum.
The White-crowned Snake is a small, slim snake up to 45 cm long. Its upper body is dark steely-grey to dark grey-brown and the belly is lighter grey. The black crown is encircled by a creamy-white band that is widest on the nape, extending around the sides of the head to enclose the snout. It is mainly nocturnal and reacts to disturbance by raising its head and upper body off the ground and making striking movements, but seldom attempts to bite.
Location and habitat
Distribution
Coastal and near-coastal areas from central eastern Queensland south to the vicinity of Coffs Harbour in north-east NSW. The western limit is the Legume area near the NSW-Queensland border; however, their stronghold appears to be the middle Clarence Valley.
Habitat and ecology
Favours low to mid-elevation dry eucalypt forest and woodland, particularly areas with a varied and well-developed litter layer, where their prey of small lizards may be more abundant. Also occasionally found in moist eucalypt forest and coastal heathland.
Don't know the scaley ones from up your way to well phil
It does look close at a glance
But I would still give that snake a good wide berth for the time being
Very young eastern browns can be so many differant colours and shades its best not to mess with ANY very young snakes I have found over the years.
Flip a few rocks in the early mornings (before they get active ) when the weather gets cooler you'll often find the youg ones hideing out for
winter .
I was assured by Ken that the town is named "Snake Valley" due to the winding shape of the creek that runs through it and not due to any local abundance of snakes. Even if it's not true it's a good story to tell to maintain local property values.
I first encountered this type of snake when we lived in suburban Brisbane.
They're quite common. They don't get very big, so maybe the one you have could be fully grown.
Crown snakes are handy to have around the place.
They'll eat all sorts of vermin that you don't want in your house.
He's probably very scared at the moment, and that is why he's aggressive.
I will let it go in the backyard then if that is the case JJJ. It is the kids i was worried about don't wont then playing around with snakes. There are allot of snakes around hear.
Phil
You must have gotten their resident snake "specialist". They should be reported to the Queensland EPA for giving out irresponsibly bad information like that.
you dont believe the zoo? i would hope they can identify animals - otherwise else they might let you pet the lions or something
Or the brown snakes. But really, it does look so much like the description. Of course discretion is the better part of valor, so I suggest an experiment. My neighbors have a yappy little mutt and ... well .....
It was taken to the local zoo today to try and find out what it is. They said it is a brown snake. So will have to keep an eye out from now on.
Phil
Obviously evolution at work. He is disguised as a crown snake to put his prey at ease?? OK, better take the expert's opinion. There may well be a few 1.5m adults around then!
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