Narrow-headed Whip Snake

Identification and appearance

A small brown to yellow-brown whipsnake with a pale-edged mark across the snout and a dark streak running from the eye toward the mouth. It is a tropical woodland species of the southern Kimberley region.

Typical length

Shea and Scanlon (2007) report a mean snout–vent length of 484.4 mm and a maximum of 676 mm from 29 specimens; these measurements are SVL, not total length.

Head appearance

Pale-edged mark across the snout and dark eye-to-mouth streak

Key identification features

• Small brown to yellow-brown whipsnake
• Pale-edged snout mark
• Dark eye-to-mouth streak

Where it is found

The southern Kimberley, from Dampierland east to the Victoria River Valley across Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Diet

Presumably feeds mostly on lizards.

Reproduction

Oviparous

Medical significance

The sources checked document venom but do not establish species-specific effects in people. Treat any possible bite as an emergency and call 000.

What to do if you encounter one

Keep your distance and leave the snake a clear route away. Do not handle it, chase it for a photograph or attempt to inspect its mouth. If it is inside a building, keep people and pets clear and contact a qualified local snake catcher.