Please help to identify this snake

nanoboy

Well-Known Member
Hi Folks,

We came across this snake in the Atherton Tablelands of Far North Queensland in Australia.

It was dark, and I don't have the best camera, so the pics aren't the best.

The snake seemed pretty sluggish, as it was below 10C.

The pics hopefully show size perspective, colouration, and the head (with a red spotlight on it).

Any idea what kind of snake it is?

Cheers!
 

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A bit difficult to get a positive ID from those photos, but its definitely not a python. What colour was the belly?

:p

Hix
 
A bit difficult to get a positive ID from those photos, but its definitely not a python. What colour was the belly?

:p

Hix

Well, I too had a feeling that it was not a python, and therefore thought that it was probably venomous. As a result, I did not get close enough to look at its belly....... :D Understandable given the circumstances and poor light I hope. :p
 
If it's C.nigrescens it should have a red belly (which is why I asked about the belly). The pale stripe down the side of the neck is not characteristic of this species either (then again, it just may be a trick of the light).

:p

Hix
 
Hmmm..... this snake gets more intriguing by the minute.

According to the website I posted: "Belly colour does not extend up onto sides, and is not visible as it is on the Red-bellied Black Snake." But, I didn't try to lift it, so we will never know. The stripe is probably a trick of the light.

Someone else suggested that it was a brown tree snake, but it does not resemble any pic that I could find on the net.
 
Definitely not a Brown Tree Snake, head shape is all wrong. I was thinking maybe a Slatey-Gray Snake, but the scales on the head look bit odd for a Slatey.

However, if someone from Cairns says it's a Small-eye, then I'm happy with that.

:p

Hix
 
When I looked a few days ago I thought either Small-eyed Snake, Freshwater Snake or Slaty-Grey Snake... But, yeah, not sure which one!

Infact! Maybe a Hemiaspis signata
 
Last edited:
nrg800 said:
Infact! Maybe a Hemiaspis signata
I think the apparent stripe in the third photo is an artifact of the flash, and the head scaling is all wrong (unless the head's at a funny angle)
 
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