Pseudonaja textilis

Eastern Brown Snake at Kaleen, ACT

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Identification history

	Pseudonaja textilis	18 Oct 2021	wombey
	Austrelaps ramsayi	17 Oct 2021	AJB

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5 comments

wombey wrote:

17 Oct 2021

I'm afraid anything that would confirm Copperhead is not obvious here. From what I can see it could just as easily be a Brown Snake. What feature gave you the impression it is a Copperhead?

AJB wrote:

17 Oct 2021

Thanks Wombey. My friend who saw it too has seen a lot of snakes. I just didn’t want get any closer for a better photo!!

WillO wrote:

18 Oct 2021

I agree with John, this most likely is not a Highlands Copperhead. There is no sign of that creamy brown or orangish colour that you get on the lower part of the side of Copperheads. The most likely candidate is the Eastern Brown Snake - they are so variable in colour from brown to almost uniform dull black that this one would fit within that range.

wombey wrote:

18 Oct 2021

Based on my views and Will's agreement, I am happy in the absence of any other comments to call it an Eastern Brown Snake. Happy to stand corrected if anyone else has a convincing argument to the contrary.

wombey wrote:

18 Oct 2021

I should also point out that regardless of the body/head colour of any Copperhead, the diagnostic feature is the white on the lip scales. If anyone needs familiarization with that, I suggest they have a look at the CNM collection of Copperhead images and pay attention to the white on each lip scale, not to be confused with the White-lipped Snake. Check it out as well to see the difference.
Have fun,
John

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