Rough-scaled Snake

Identification and appearance

Dark crosswise markings stand out most clearly on the front of the brown or olive body and may fade in older snakes. The head is distinct from a slender to moderately built body, and the scales have pronounced ridges. It can resemble a keelback, so appearance alone must not be used to judge safety.

Other names

Clarence River Snake

Typical length

Australian Museum and AROD report an average size around 75 cm and a reported maximum around 1 m.

Body build

slender, medium

Head appearance

Distinct head

Key identification features

• Strongly keeled body scales
• Transverse dark blotches are strongest toward the front of the body
• Wet eastern habitat and resemblance to keelback

Where it is found

Two separated Australian regions: the tropical north Queensland coast between Mossman and Tully, and the east coast from the central New South Wales coast to Fraser Island in Queensland.

Habitat

Rough-scaled Snakes use moist forest, shrubland and heath, as well as artificial grassland usually near a swamp or watercourse. Shelter sites include tree hollows, cracks and cavities, and ferns growing on trees.

Activity

Mostly nocturnal and crepuscular; it may bask during the day.

Diet

Frogs and other vertebrate prey, including lizards, birds and mammals.

Reproduction

Live-bearing; AROD reports an average litter size of 10.

Medical significance

A bite may cause serious envenoming. Treat any suspected bite as an emergency, call 000 and do not wait for identification.

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.

Similar-looking snakes

Photo: Max Tibby · CC0 (Licence)

Colubridae

Common Keelback

Tropidonophis mairii

A small non-venomous snake often found around freshwater in northern and eastern Australia. Its grey or olive-brown body commonly carries broken dark bands. It closely resembles the venomous rough-scaled snake, so neither the waterside setting nor rough-looking scales proves an identification.

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