Elapidae
Yellow-faced Whip Snake
Demansia psammophis
Yellow-faced Whip Snake is an eastern Australian species recorded in NSW, QLD, VIC, SA and ACT. It is variable in grey, olive, yellow and brown tones, with a dark facial line and dark-edged scales that can give a reticulated appearance.
Venomous
Identification and appearance
Body colours include grey, olive, yellow and copper-brown. Dark scale edges can form a net-like appearance, while a dark line crosses the snout.
Typical length
AROD lists a species average of 80 cm and a maximum of 110 cm; these figures do not establish a typical adult interval.
Body build
slender
Key identification features
- Variable grey, olive, yellow or brown colouration
- Dark facial line
- Dark-edged scales may give a reticulated appearance
Where it is found
Eastern Australia, with records in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory; the 2023 revision separates it from western and central Australian taxa.
Activity
Active, diurnal and fast-moving.
Diet
Mainly lizards, especially skinks, dragons and legless lizards; occasionally reptile eggs and frogs.
Reproduction
Oviparous.
Medical significance
Venomous. A suspected bite needs urgent medical assessment; do not use a website result to judge risk. Call 000 and follow snakebite first aid for any suspected bite.
What to do if you encounter one
Keep well clear, leave a route for the snake to move away and do not approach for a closer look. If it is inside a building, keep people and pets away and contact a qualified local snake catcher.
Similar-looking snakes
Yellow-faced Whips are sometimes confused with Eastern Brown Snakes. Desert Whips are another close lookalike, with an adjoining inland range.
Photo: Max Tibby · CC0 1.0 (Licence)
Elapidae
Desert Whip Snake
Demansia cyanochasma
Desert Whip Snake is a venomous central Australian species ranging from southeastern inland Western Australia through South Australia and central/southern Northern Territory to south-western Queensland. It is bluish-grey to brown, with a cream-edged dark line across the snout.
Open identification guide
Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark · CC BY 2.0 (Licence)
Elapidae
Eastern Brown Snake
Pseudonaja textilis
An Eastern Brown Snake is not always brown. Adults can be tan, orange-brown or nearly black, while young snakes may have striking dark bands. A relatively small head and slender body are more useful clues than the name alone.
Open identification guideTaxonomy notes
A 2023 revision separated the central Australian Desert Whip Snake and clarified the boundaries between Yellow-faced and Reticulated Whip Snakes.
Sources checked
- Australian Reptile Online Database — Demansia psammophis (2026-09-25)
- The Reptile Database — Demansia psammophis (2026-09-25)
- Nankivell et al. 2023 — Demansia complex revision (2026-09-25)
- Australian Museum — species comparison (2026-09-26)
- Nankivell et al. — Whip snake revision (2026-09-26)
Still not sure?
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A profile is a guide, not a reason to approach or handle a snake.