Elapidae
Long-tailed Whip Snake
Demansia flagellatio
The Long-tailed Whip Snake is a very slender venomous snake of north-western Queensland. Its bold black-and-yellow head pattern and long tail are described in current specialist accounts.
Venomous
Identification and appearance
The Reptile Database describes a small, very slender snake with a bold black-and-yellow head pattern, yellow postocular and nape bars and a second black nape band. Its maximum is given as snout–vent length, not total length.
Typical length
The Australian Museum revision reports a mean SVL of 42.4 cm and maximum SVL of 51 cm; these are snout–vent measurements, not total length, so total-length bounds remain unverified.
Body build
slender
Head appearance
bold black-and-yellow head pattern
Key identification features
- Very slender body and long tail
- Bold black-and-yellow head and nape pattern
- North-west Queensland range
Where it is found
North-western Queensland, around the Mount Isa region and north to Lawn Hill National Park.
Diet
Presumably mostly lizards.
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
Keep your distance and leave it a clear path away. Contact a qualified snake catcher if needed.
Similar-looking snakes
No pairwise lookalike link is included without a direct source comparison. Do not approach a whip snake to compare its head bars or tail.
Taxonomy notes
The Reptile Database records Demansia flagellatio as the current name; before its description it was confused with other tropical whipsnakes. The maximum cited there is SVL.
Sources checked
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A profile is a guide, not a reason to approach or handle a snake.