Orange-naped Snake

Identification and appearance

Body colour ranges from buff to reddish brown, with darker edges to the scales. Colour darkens with age. A red patch at the nape has an incomplete black border.

Other names

Moon Snake

Typical length

The Western Australian revision measured specimens at 12.8–50.8 cm snout–vent length, averaging 30.47 cm. The sample includes juveniles and excludes tail length, so it does not establish a typical adult total-length interval or a species-wide maximum.

Key identification features

• Pale buff, brown or reddish body
• Red nape blotch
• Black does not completely enclose the blotch
• Northern Australian range

Where it is found

Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.

Activity

In a central Australian study, snakes were encountered in every month except the coldest one. That regional study found no clear relationship between activity and the measured temperature, rainfall or humidity.

Diet

Mainly skinks that are active during the day.

Reproduction

Oviparous.

Medical significance

Treat any suspected snakebite as an emergency: 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.

Similar-looking snakes

Photo: Max Tibby · CC0 1.0 (Licence)

Elapidae

Red-naped Snake

Furina diadema

A slender red-brown snake with a black head and nape, pale belly and a red or orange nape patch enclosed by black. Its checked range spans NSW, Queensland, SA, Victoria and the ACT.

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