Mitchell’s Short-tailed Snake

Identification and appearance

A heavy-bodied snake with pale sides and a dark head. A dark zone can run along the spine, varying from a wide stripe to little or no stripe. Dark brown marks at the bases of the side scales merge toward the darker back.

Other names

Mallee Black-backed Snake

Typical length

Storr’s 1981 study measured 169–530 mm from snout to vent, with a sample mean of 329.2 mm. Its sample included Western Australian and South Australian snakes under the older, broader species definition. These measurements exclude the tail and do not establish a typical adult total-length range.

Body build

robust

Head appearance

dark head and nape

Key identification features

• Stout body with pale sides
• Variable dark stripe or darker area along the back
• Partly tree-dwelling

Where it is found

Western Australia and western South Australia, following the preliminary western-population interpretation in the 2020 revision. Its examined western-population specimens include Saint Peter Island, South Australia.

Reproduction

Live-bearing.

Medical significance

For any suspected snakebite, call 000 and follow snakebite first aid. Do not wait for identification.

What to do if you encounter one

Keep clear and do not handle it. Use a qualified snake catcher or local wildlife authority if it is trapped near people.

Taxonomy notes

Maryan et al. (2020) tentatively associated the western population with Suta nigriceps and the eastern population with Suta dwyeri. They noted uncertainty about the nigriceps type locality and called for further genetic and morphological study.