Elapidae
White-crowned Snake
Cacophis harriettae
The White-crowned Snake is a small dark snake of moist eastern Australian habitats. It has a broad white collar across the nape and a dark head.
Venomous
Identification and appearance
AROD describes a black to dark-grey body with a broad white band across the nape that continues onto each side of the head. Specialist accounts also describe a mainly white iris and a white collar.
Other names
White-naped Snake
Typical length
AROD reports an average of about 40 cm and a maximum of 56 cm.
Head appearance
dark head, white collar
Key identification features
- Black or dark-grey body
- Broad white nape collar extending onto the head
- Moist forest, rainforest and garden habitat
Where it is found
North-eastern New South Wales north to near Proserpine in Queensland.
Habitat
Often found in dry eucalypt forest and woodland with a thick leaf-litter layer; it also occurs in moist forest and coastal heath.
Activity
Mainly active at night.
Diet
Lizards and reptile eggs.
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
Leave it alone and give it a route into cover. Keep pets away and use a qualified snake catcher if needed.
Similar-looking snakes
Its broad white neck band differs from the narrow yellow bands of Northern Dwarf and Dwarf Crowned Snakes. Golden-crowned Snake instead has brown to yellow streaks along the sides of the neck. These markings may be unclear in photographs.
Photo: dhfischer · CC BY 4.0 (Licence)
Elapidae
Northern Dwarf Crowned Snake
Cacophis churchilli
Northern Dwarf Crowned Snake is a Queensland snake of rainforest and adjacent dry forest from Mt Elliot and Magnetic Island to just south of Cooktown. It is dark grey to brown above with a narrow yellow nape band.
Open identification guide
Photo: Max Tibby · CC0 1.0 (Licence)
Elapidae
Dwarf Crowned Snake
Cacophis krefftii
A tiny crowned snake of eastern Australia with a narrow yellowish collar.
Open identification guide
Photo: dhfischer · CC BY 4.0 (Licence)
Elapidae
Golden-crowned Snake
Cacophis squamulosus
A dark snake with a yellowish streak along each side of the neck and onto the head. The checked range runs from the Goulburn region of New South Wales north to Proserpine in Queensland.
Open identification guideTaxonomy notes
Also known as the White-naped Snake.
Sources checked
- Australian Reptile Online Database — White-crowned snake (2026-09-25)
- The Reptile Database — Cacophis harriettae (2026-09-25)
- Species account — White-crowned Snake (2026-09-26)
- NSW Environment (2026-09-26)
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A profile is a guide, not a reason to approach or handle a snake.