Elapidae
Arnhem Shovel-nosed Snake
Brachyurophis morrisi
The Arnhem Shovel-nosed Snake is a small Northern Territory snake from northern Arnhem Land. It has an orange-brown body, a dark nape band and little or no dark cross-banding on the body and tail.
Venomous
Identification and appearance
AROD describes an orange-brown snake with a broad dark band across the nape and dark mottling between the eyes. The body is usually unbanded, although dark-edged scales can create a faint reticulated appearance. The Reptile Database describes a protruding snout and a sharp cutting edge, with no dark cross-bands on the body or tail.
Typical length
The larger of two measured males in the original description was about 30.1 cm including its tail. This small sample does not establish the full adult size range.
Body build
robust
Head appearance
protruding shovel-like snout
Key identification features
- Orange-brown body
- Dark nape band and head mottling
- Body and tail lack dark cross-bands in the specialist diagnosis
Where it is found
Northern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.
Diet
Reptile eggs.
Reproduction
Egg-laying.
Medical significance
Species-specific clinical effects are not established in this profile. For any suspected bite, call 000 and follow snakebite first aid without waiting for identification.
What to do if you encounter one
Do not handle or dig for it. Leave it under cover and contact a qualified snake catcher if it is trapped near people.
Similar-looking snakes
Other shovel-nosed snakes can share orange-brown colour and dark head markings. No pairwise lookalike link is included without a direct source comparison.
Taxonomy notes
The Reptile Database retains the species under Brachyurophis and records historical Simoselaps morrisi combinations. Its maximum is reported as snout–vent length and is not used as a total-length maximum.
Sources checked
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A profile is a guide, not a reason to approach or handle a snake.