antaresia maculosa is a python species found in northern australia .

it is a popular pet among australian reptile enthusiasts due to its small size and even temperament .

no subspecies are currently recognized .

antaresia maculosa

liasis maculosus peters 1873 : 608 antaresia maculosus — kluge 1993 liasis maculosus — shine 1994 antaresia maculosa — mcdiarmid , campbell & touré 1999 : 162 antaresia maculosus — cogger 2000 : 606 antaresia maculosa brentonoloughlini hoser 2003 antaresia maculosa — hasselberg 2004 antaresia maculosus — greer 2006 ( online ) antaresia maculosa — wilson & swan 2010 antaresia maculosa — wallach et al . 2014 : 45
antaresia maculosa is the most common species in captivity of all the genus antaresia . it is one of the easiest pythons to maintain .
the spotted python ( antaresia maculosa ) is a medium sized nonvenomous snake species found in northern australia .
antaresia : after the star antares in the tail of the constellation scorpius . maculosa : ' spotted ' .
the spotted python , antaresia maculosa , is the largest member of the genus antaresia . although most specimens stay between 3 - 4 feet , lengths up to 5 feet have been recorded .
kroeze , allard 2006 . breeding results antaresia maculosa . litteratura serpentium 26 ( 4 ) : 237 - 239 - get paper here
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hasselberg , d . 2004 . gefleckter zwergpython , antaresia maculosa ( peters 1873 ) . reptilia ( münster ) 9 ( 49 ) : 79 - 81 - get paper here
note this species along with the stimsons python - antaresia stimsoni and the children ' s python - antaresia childreni were once all considered to be the same species liasis childreni . for this reason many people still call this species a
children ' s python
however it is suggested that to avoid confusion the common name
children ' s python should be reserved for antaresia childreni .
this species is most similar to the spotted python , antaresia maculosa , which is fawn to brown with numerous dark purplish - brown blotches . adult spotted pythons are much smaller than carpet snakes and have 3 scales across the top of the head in a straight line between the eyes .
children ' s python ( antaresia childreni ) - weaker pattern ; smooth - edged , circular dark blotches on back . stimson ' s python ( antaresia stimsoni ) - tends to have greater contrast between ground colour and pattern ; pale stripe running down side of neck .
o’shea m . ; sprackland , r . g . & bibilale , i . h . 2004 . first record for the genus antaresia ( squamata : pythonidae ) from papua new guinea . herpetological review 35 ( 3 ) : 225 - 227 - get paper here
of all the species in the genus antaresia , the spotted pythons ' range is the most green . living throughout the fertile eastern coast , this python can be found in a variety of habitats including wet forest , grasslands , open forest , caves and even in human modified habitat such as agricultural areas .
antaresia maculosa has been assessed as least concern . it has a large distribution in eastern australia and is also found in southern papua new guinea . it inhabits a wide range of habitats and thrives in modified areas in australia . it is unlikely to be affected by any major threats and is present in a large number of protected areas in australia and one in papua new guinea . its population in papua new guinea may be threatened by the international pet trade but further research on this is required . if the new guinea population is found to be distinct , then this population may qualify for listing at a higher threat category , primarily because of the threat of the impact of international trade .
our first antaresia maculosa or spotted python eggs . very excited about these . i actually thought that she wasnt going to lay this year , i even fed her last night and she ate . then this morning i find 9 beautiful eggs . available reptiles here urltoken be sure to listen to gecko nation radio sunday night at 8pm eastern urltoken check out the bc barker creations facebook page and please hit that like button urltoken support the united states association of reptile keepers urltoken bc barker creations t - shirts available here urltoken urltoken all video is video i created , shot and own . it was edited in pinnacle studio 14 by avid . all title visuals and background music are from pinnacle studio 14 which i am allowed to use . here is the link urltoken here is the link to the terms urltoken
the spotted python is the largest member within the genus antaresia reaching a total length of 3 - 3 . 5ft . their overall colouration is cream to a yellow - brown with prominent dark brown - purplish patterning . the dark blotches can be joined or separated along the body . they have a typical python head shape with heat - sensory pits on the snout . the teeth are long and backwards pointing ; this helps them grip onto prey while constricting with the body .
this snake is found in open forest and woodland , it is rarely dangerous unless trapped . it preys on small birds , mammals and other reptiles . the body is shiny , light brown with dark brown irregular markings , which may appear as blotches , belly is greyish or cream . this species is one of a complex and until recently was also known as “children’s python” , however this name is now more commonly applied to a western species in this complex ( antaresia childreni ) .
note : tdwg regions are generated automatically from the text in the distribution field and not in every cases it works well . we are working on it .
hoser ( 2004 ) separated brentonoloughlini from the nominate subspecies “by its greater preponderance of light colouration relative to dark blotches on the dorsal surface” ( hoser 2004 ) , stating that the nominate form would “have roughly half to half ( 50 : 50 ) dark versus light blothes” whereas the ratio in this taxon “is generally at least 60 % light colour to 40 % or less darker blotches” ( hoser 2004 ) , and by larger average size . type locality : 16 km east of coen , queensland , australia .
barker , dave ; barker , tracy 1995 . the southern stars of australia : australia ' s small pythons . vivarium 6 ( 4 ) : 30 - 35
cogger , h . g . 2014 . reptiles and amphibians of australia , 7th ed . csiro publishing , xxx + 1033 pp .
cogger , h . g . 2000 . reptiles and amphibians of australia , 6th ed . ralph curtis publishing , sanibel island , 808 pp .
franz , v . 2003 . pythons of the world . reptilia ( gb ) ( 27 ) : 16 - 23 - get paper here
gower , d . ; garrett , k . & stafford , p . 2012 . snakes . firefly books , buffalo , ny , < br / > 144 p . .
hoser , r . 2003 . a reclassification of the pythoninae including the descriptions of two new genera , two new species and nine new subspecies . part i . [ see also part ii . ] . crocodilian 4 ( 3 ) ( november 2003 ) : 31 - 37 - get paper here
hoser , r . 2003 . five new pythons . macarthur herpetological society newsletter , 40 : 4 - 9 . - get paper here
kaiser , h . ; crother , b . i . ; kelly , c . m . r . ; luiselli , l . ; o’shea , m . ; ota , h . ; passos , p . ; schleip , w . d . & wüster , w . 2013 . best practices : in the 21st century , taxonomic decisions in herpetology are acceptable only when supported by a body of evidence and published via peer - review . herpetological review 44 ( 1 ) : 8 - 23
kunz , k . 2017 . die pythons neuguineas . von altbekannt bis geheimnisumwittert reptilia ( münster ) 22 ( 127 ) : 16 - 21 - get paper here
mcdiarmid , r . w . ; campbell , j . a . & touré , t . a . 1999 . snake species of the world . vol . 1 . herpetologists’ league , 511 pp .
peters , wilhem carl hartwig 1873 . über eine neue schildkrötenart , cinosternon effeldtii und einige andere neue oder weniger bekannte amphibien . monatsber . königl . akad . wiss . berlin . 1873 ( october ) : 603 - 618 - get paper here
schleip , wulf d & o’shea , m . 2010 . annotated checklist of the recent and extinct pythons ( serpentes , pythonidae ) , with notes on nomenclature , taxonomy , and distribution . zookeys 66 ( 2010 ) : 29 - 79 - get paper here
shine , richard 1994 . sexual size dimorphism in snakes revisited . copeia 1994 ( 2 ) : 326 - 346 - get paper here
smith l a 1985 . a revision of the liasis childreni species - group ( serpentes : boidae ) . rec . west . austr . mus . 12 ( 3 ) : 257 - 276 - get paper here
wallach , van ; kenneth l . williams , jeff boundy 2014 . snakes of the world : a catalogue of living and extinct species . taylor and francis , crc press , 1237 pp .
wilson , s . & swan , g . 2010 . a complete guide to reptiles of australia , 3rd ed . chatswood : new holland , 558 pp .
this database is maintained by peter uetz ( database content ) and jakob hallermann , zoological museum hamburg ( new species and updates ) .
we thank the indonesian traders and villagers who accommodated us over the course of our studies . thanks also to a . allison and f . kraus for their assistance in identifying specimens from photographs and c . shepherd and m . auliya for comments that improved an earlier version of this manuscript .
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frazier s ( 2007 ) threats to biodiversity . in : marshall aj , beehler bm ( eds ) the ecology of papua . periplus editions , singapore , pp 1199–1229
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gibbons jw et al ( 2000 ) the global decline of reptiles , déjà vu amphibians . bioscience 50 : 653–666
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mccallum m ( 2007 ) amphibian decline or extinction ? current declines dwarf background extinction rate . j herpetol 41 : 483–491
ministry of forestry , directorate general of forest protection and nature conservation , directorate of biodiversity conservation ( phka ) , 2011 . country report of indonesia : snake trade and conservation . jakarta , available online at <
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nijman v ( 2010 ) an overview of international wildlife trade from southeast asia . biodivers conserv 19 : 1101–1114
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the number of species increased from 10 , 711 to 10 , 793 , i . e . an increase of 82 species . 66 new species have been described , 9 species have been revalidated from synonymy and 16 subspecies were elevated to full species . . .
over the past 4 months , the number of species increased from 10 , 639 to 10 , 711 .
the number of species has grown from 10 , 544 in the may release to now 10 , 639 ( + 95 species ) .
overall , 212 new taxa have been added or changed their status or name .
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information on the spotted python is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly .
this information is awaiting authentication by a species expert , and will be updated as soon as possible . if you are able to help please contact : arkive @ urltoken
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hoser , r . 2003 ,
five new australian pythons
, newsletter macarthur herpetological society , vol . 40 , pp . 4 - 9
peters , w . 1873 ,
über eine neue schildkrötenart , cinosternon effeldtii und einige andere neue oder weniger bekannte amphibien
, monatsberichte der königlichen preussischen akademie der wissenschaften zu berlin , vol . 1873 , pp . 603 - 618
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 2d1985ca - e828 - 41c8 - 81a5 - fd86ed89ad6a
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 647d98a7 - a383 - 46b5 - b9ed - e96ec3ddc5f4
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 7043f00c - 6a3d - 4386 - a8d5 - d09f30838010
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : a468dd49 - beec - 4655 - 93ad - f1670a70bc04
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : fe686691 - 8fe8 - 4916 - 93f2 - 17aeae4ab821
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : d9a4da1a - 7dfe - 42eb - b561 - d91d5ca4a5f9
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . name : 337178
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pattern is usually quite distinct . has ragged - edged , irregular blotches on back . heat pits are present on lower labial scales , but there are no rostral heat pits .
non - venomous . not considered dangerous . note : even a bite from a ' virtually harmless ' or non - venomous reptile can result in serious complications . play it safe and don ' t get bitten by anything .
rocky outcrops , hills , escarpments , caves , dry forests , rainforest margins .
note : these are general threats and may not apply to this particular species .
there are many ways you can help our reptiles . here are my top three suggestions :
note : the links below are automatically generated . some may not take you to useful information .
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the species is characterised by the ragged edged , dark brown or black blotches on a lighter , brown background . the blotches can be separated or joined - forming a weavy dorsal stripe .
spotted pythons live in a variety of habitats - rainforests , forests , grasslands , woodlands and rocky areas .
they occur from the tip of the cape york peninsula in northern queensland , down the coast on the east side of the great dividing range , to northeastern new south wales . they can also be found on several islands along the coast of queensland .
wild spotted pythons eat rodents , birds , lizards , frogs and bats . in captivity , they are usually fed rodents - mice and rats .
none at the moment all 2006 babies are sold ! the next breeding season has started and my snakes are mating . next year i will be expecting ball pythons , irian jaya carpet pythons , dumeril ' s boas , blood pythons , children ' s pythons , kenyan sand boas , spotted pythons and perhaps some others . for availability , check me out often !
mon premier serpent , comment faire les premiers jours python et serpent des blés .
garrick demeyer ' s ball python breeding season - breeding , gravid females , and egg setup .
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no health issues , good temperament , very easy to manage python and no marks , blemishes and very attractive snake .
preferably no . however may ship if buyer pays all costs of reptiles and transfer costs upfront and holds proper licenses and organise shipping .
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spotted pythons are found along much of australia ' s eastern coast from the northeast corner of new south wales northward to the tip of the cape york peninsula . the western limit of the distribution is formed by great dividing range .
i am currently working with both the central coast and cape york forms . in addition i am also working with the granite mutation of the central coast lineage .
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i have just begun adding my 2017 stock to my available pages , once again i will have the largest selection of carpet pythons for sale in the world . !
after quite a bit of work , i have now made most of my lineage records available on this website . lineages are recorded in the form of family trees ' for each clutch produced in a given year . this is without a doubt the largest such repository of lineage information on carpet pythons online and it is my hope that this effort with raise the bar for record keeping within this species group . have a look and tell me what you think !
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pacific nw reptile and exotic aniunmal show april 7 - 8 , 2018 873 ne 34th ave . , hillsboro or 97125
seattle metro reptile expo may 2018 evergreen state fairground 14405 179th ave . se monroe , wa 98272
portland metro reptile expo august 2018 columbia conference center @ holiday inn ( i - 205 ) 8439 ne columbia blvd . , portland or 97220
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general shape small to medium in length , medium to moderately stout bodied python with a short tail . can grow to a maximum of about 1 . 05 metres . head is not chunky , slightly flattened and distinct from neck . eyes are moderately large in size with vertically elliptical pupils . dorsal scales are smooth with apical pits . dorsal scale count ( 28 to 35 ) - ( 35 to 44 ) - ( 22 to 28 ) .
habitat tropical wet to tropical moist coastal forest , seasonally dry woodland and forest and extending into dry savanna woodlands .
habits nocturnal snake found in trees and shrubs or on the ground ( especially in rocky terrain ) .
general : dangerousness bite most unlikely to cause fatality , but death from constriction possible , but rare .
general : local effects can cause numerous tooth punctures , with local pain & swelling , potential for secondary infection .
description : first aid for bites by pythons , boas and other strictly non - venomous snakes ( excluding non - front - fanged colubroid snakes ) .
treatment summary bites by boas & pythons do not cause envenoming , but can cause local pain , swelling , secondary infection , or rarely , more extensive injury from constriction . the wound should be washed thoroughly . if infection develops , commence targeted antibiotic therapy orally , or in more severe cases , iv . no antivenom is available , nor is it needed , because these snakes are non - venomous .
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spotted pythons are one of the friendliest and shiest species of reptiles . it is also commonly known as eastern small blotched python . their shy and friendly nature along with their non - venomous characteristic makes them one of the widely popular and a very friendly pet . this sleek and slithering reptile is very interesting to observe as well as pet .
size : an average adult spotted python is 75cm to 1m in length . some of the larger ones can also measure up to 1 . 5m . appearance : heads of the spotted pythons are very different from their necks , than how it should have been . this species of snakes are of very solid built .
skin : skin of spotted pythons are blotched and ragged at the edges , since dark pigmentation arises n complete scales only . their body had about 37 - 44 rows of scales around their mid - body .
color : these snake species are found in blotched and irregular color patterns . they are mostly of dark brown , dark chocolate , pale brown , soil color , and many more varieties of brown color . their underneath side of the body are cream in color .
spotted pythons are found in australia . they range from cape york peninsula , in the extreme north , to eastern queensland in the southern part to north of new south wales . the species is found on the islands off - coast queensland .
spotted pythons are very shy in nature . they can be friendly and come out of their shyness if treated well enough .
nascent spotted pythons do bite sometimes from their threatened defensive nature . but the grown up spotted pythons are usually very docile in nature .
sign of a healthy spotted python is if it sheds around once a month on a regular basis . the skin shedding process is a basic necessity of the growing procedure of snakes . the older they grow in age their physical growth rate decreases and so does their shedding frequency . if the snake is not shedding then that indicates malnutrition or any of the environmental discomforts and misfits .
malnutrition , improper humidity , too much of human handling , trauma , and skin bacteria can cause less shedding , which in turn affect growth of the species . a proper shedding will include eye caps also . if the eye caps do not shed , removing them very carefully with trained hands is advisable .
when the spotted pythons , or as a matter of fact any snake species , is about to shed , their eyes glaze milky white . a healthy shedding is when the skin comes out in one piece .
the spotted pythons feed on mostly small mammals , lizards , birds , etc . the insectivorous bats are one of the favorite foods of the spotted python species . they have also been observed to diet on small rodents and mice . these bats reach the entrance to the habitat holes of these snakes in search of bugs and insects , and become prey to the snakes .
housing : the house should be ideally 1 . 5ft in depth , 4ft in width , and 1ft high in measurement . it should be provided with some furniture like stuff as spotted pythons love to climb and play . an insulator is recommended to provide inside the glass house for the reptile . more than one small and humid hide - out is recommended for the reptile house for them to shed in ease . the hide - out should have holes for their entry and exit .
water : spotted pythons require fresh water around them all the time . a bowl should be provided with fresh water inside their glass house for them . they should be made feel as much comfortable enough as possible as in their natural habitat .
temperature : the glass house for spotted pythons should be kept at a constant temperature between 88 to 90 fahrenheit during the day and should be decreased by 5 degrees at night . the house should have enough amount of inside . electrical apparatus should be strictly avoided in a snake house as that can cause burns to almost death to them .
feeding : young spotted pythons are good on hairless nascent mice diet . adult pythons can be provided with grown up mice as their diet . usually the reptile species feed on maximum 2 mice a week . a proper meal is measured as to weigh ten percent of the reptile’s weight .
maintenance : a calendar should be maintained to keep a track of their feeding frequency and their shedding frequency .
spotted pythons are very shy usually and prefer to stay within themselves . their habitats suggest this trait of their nature . rocky outcrops , dry forested areas , dry woodlands , frequented with ground timber areas are a favorite for spotted pythons for inhabiting . they also inhabit in the rim regions of disturbed farmlands .
spotted pythons are known for their estivation along with the usual hibernation . estivation is the hide out stage in summers as well . during the hibernation and estivation period the snakes sleep and their metabolic activities slow down .
in the wild , it has been observed that the spotted pythons live for about 20years to 30years on average . when bred in captivity their longevity depends on the care they are provided with .
spotted pythons are very good mothers . they are ovivaporous animals , those animals which lay eggs . snakes are in general cold - blooded creatures . their eggs require certain amount of heat to hatch which the cold - blooded snakes cannot provide on their own .
mother pythons twirl up around the eggs and never leave the eggs till they hatch . the mothers slither to some places to warm themselves up and come back to swirl up around the eggs and provide the necessary temperature to the eggs . some spotted pythons shiver their muscles to produce heat and keep the eggs warm enough . they generate their own moisture to keep hydrating the eggs .
the eggs take about 3months to hatch and the young ones come out . for that 3month long period the mother pythons stay twirled up around the eggs without even eating . once the young snakes come out the mothers do not keep such an exhausting tab on them .
spotted pythons are a very interesting species . here are some very interesting facts about it . • they are also called eastern blotched pythons due to the blotch patterns on their skin . • the spotted pythons hibernate as well as estivate . • though the spotted pythons prefer rocky mountain caves and deserted forest lands to inhabit , but they need moisture to shed . they also need fresh water around their range . • due to their friendly nature they make a great pet .
spotted pythons are quite safe a species of snakes as of yet . they are unlikely to get endangered in near future , given their diet and environmental preferences .
the exotic species of spotted pythons are very popular as pets . though they are not yet endangered let us all help keep them safe forever . if petting them then the care sheet should be followed in order to avoid any hassles to threaten their lives . or even better let them be at mother nature’s care .
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solidly - built snake but not as large as the coastal carpet python . fawn or pale - brown ground colour with contrasting dark , chocolatey - brown mottled & blotched pattern and color . mostly cream on the underside . head is distinct from the neck . midbody scales at 37 - 44 rows .
preferred habitat includes rocky outcrops and associated ridges within dry forests and woodland . will inhabit areas where ground timber is frequent . also the periphery of suburbs and disturbed farmland .
uncommon in the central brisbane region . occasionally found in outer suburbs & urban bushland . scattered local populations occur throughout the lockyer and brisbane valleys . specimens recorded from karana downs , bardon , the gap and samford where suitable habitat features persist .
uncommonly seen this species will utilise ground level refugia such as rock walls , sheet iron and timber piles .
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we provide our australian snake identification service free of charge and always welcome high quality images for potential inclusion on our website . this service is not just for queensland snake identification but for all snake id across australia .
this species is widespread in australia occurring from tamworth in new south wales north to northern cape york peninsula in queensland ( wilson and swan 2003 ) . it is known from the torres strait islands of waiben , kirriri , badu , mabuyag and mua ( lavery et al . 2012 ) . o’shea et al . ( 2004 ) reported the first occurrence outside australia , at weam in western province , papua new guinea . it is likely that this species has a much larger distribution in papua new guinea due to the large area of suitable tropical woodland habitat ( natusch and lyon 2011 ) . it is found at under 50 m asl in new guinea .
in australia this species inhabits a wide range of habitats , from wet coastal rainforests to seasonally dry woodlands in the north and dry savannah and rocky outcrops west of the great dividing range in the south . it is also found in modified areas such as cane fields . it is a nocturnal terrestrial and arboreal species which feeds primarily upon small mammals , birds and reptiles ( cogger 2000 , wilson and swan 2003 ) . in new guinea it has been recorded from eucalypt savanna , with numerous termite mounds .
there is no population information available for this species in new guinea , but its population in australia is presumably stable .
pythons are especially at risk and the populations of pythons of some asian and african countries have been severely depleted by skin hunters in modem times . fortunately papua new guinea has an enlightened view regarding commercial exploitation of its wildlife , especially by outside commercial interests ( o’shea 1996 ) .
natusch and lyon ( 2011 ) expressed concern that this species has only recently been recorded in papua new guinea ( o’shea 2004 ) , but has apparently been traded for at least the last five years in maureke region , indonesia .
natusch and lyons ( 2012 ) noted the trade of this species from merauke in indonesian new guinea and that four individuals were recorded at wildlife traders between september 2010 - april 2011 . this species is listed under cities but does not have a protection status in indonesia . there is no quota for this species .
it is unlikely that any major threats are impacting this species . this species is present in the international pet trade in indonesia but has not currently been recorded from that country . as this species is currently only known from a restricted area in papua new guinea exploitation by the pet trade may be threatening this population . if the populations in new guinea prove to be distinct from australian animals their desirability will increase , placing further pressure on these presumably restricted populations .
this species is listed under appendix ii of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora ( cites ) . this species has protection status in australia , papua new guinea but not in indonesian new guinea ( natusch and lyons 2012 ) . this species occurs in one protected areas , the tonda wildlife management area in papua new guinea and a large number in australia . further research into this species distribution in new guinea and a program to monitor the harvest and trade levels and collection source of individuals is recommended .
cogger , h . g . 2000 . reptiles and amphibians of australia . new holland publishers , sydney .
lavery , t . h . , watson , j . j . , leung , l . k . - p . 2012 . terrestrial vertebrate richness of the inhabited torres strait islands , australia . australian journal of zoology 600 ( 3 ) : 180 - 191 .
natusch , d . j . d . and lyons , j . a . 2011 . ecological attributes and trade of white - lipped pythons ( genus leiopython ) in indonesia new guinea . australian journal of zoology 59 ( 5 ) : 339 - 343 .
natusch , d . j . d . and lyons , j . a . 2012 . exploited for pets . the harvest and trade of amphibians and reptiles from indonesia new guinea . biodiversity conservation 21 : 2899 - 2911 .
o ' shea , m . 1996 . a guide to the snakes of papua new guinea . independent publishing , independent group ltd . , port moresby , png .
wilson , s . and swan , g . 2003 . a complete guide to reptiles of australia . new holland , sydney .
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head of carpet python , morelia spilota , showing heat sensitive pits along jaw - line and forked tongue .
carpet snakes are extremely variable in colour and pattern . most specimens are olive green , with pale , dark - edged blotches , stripes or cross - bands . the juveniles are similarly patterned , but often in shades of brown rather than olive green . a row of deep pits can be seen along the lower jaw and many small scales are present on the top of the head . this species can grow to more than 3 m in length . midbody scale rows 40–65 ; ventrals 240–310 , narrow ; anal single ; subcaudals divided 60–95 .
lives in open forests , rainforests , coastal heaths , rural lands , park lands and suburban gardens .
this snake is active both day and night and can be encountered on the ground , in trees or buildings ( particularly chicken pens , barns and attics ) .
this species is non - venomous , but tetanus protection is recommended following bites .
feeds on frogs , lizards , birds , mammals . cane toads are sometime taken as prey with fatal consequences for the snake .
10–47 eggs are laid in early summer . the eggs are concealed in a sheltered site ( beneath building materials , between hay bales , hollow stump or a depression in ground ) and are incubated by the female who will ` shiver ' to generate heat . the female leaves the nest to bask in the morning sun and returns to her eggs in a pre - heated condition . nesting females will defend their eggs . the hatchling snakes measure around 39 cm from the snout to the base of the tail ( snout - vent length ) .
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there is great variation between individuals within a single species of snake . the descriptions below are based on general characteristics . it can be difficult to positively identify some snakes . never approach snakes and never assume that they are non - venomous .
snakes of greater brisbane twenty - seven species of terrestrial snake are found in the brisbane area . the combination of native habitat and the introduction of exotic animals have influenced the distribution of some species of snake . some snakes can be found in suburban backyards and even in the city centre . the most commonly encountered species are the carpet python , common tree snake , keelback , yellow - faced whip snake , white - crowned snake and eastern small - eyed snake .
it is important to note that a number of venomous snakes are found in and around brisbane , including the coastal taipan , tiger snake , death adder , rough - scaled snake and eastern brown snake . of these snakes only the eastern brown snake is regularly found in brisbane ' s suburbs .
this family includes front - fanged , venomous land snakes . although this encompasses the highly venomous snakes of australia , the venom of most species is harmless to humans . the venom injected by these snakes is used to immobilise or kill prey—sometimes a combination of toxic venom and constriction is used . these snakes are known to feed on small mammals , birds , reptiles ( including other snakes ) and amphibians .
the common death adder is variable in colour , usually with contrasting cross - bands and has a large , almost triangular head and stout body . the thin rat - like tail ends in a curved soft spine and the tip is cream or black . it feeds on reptiles , mammals and birds , and attracts prey by using the tail as a lure . it is rare to absent in brisbane but is known from mt nebo and mt glorious . the average size of the common death adder is 0 . 4 metres ( m ) with a maximum length of 1m .
the eastern brown snake varies widely in colour from light tan to almost black . the belly ranges from cream to orange with darker orange blotches . to add confusion , hatchlings may have a darker head and neck band or can have dark cross - bands along their entire length . these patterns gradually disappear with age . the eastern brown snake occurs in a variety of habitats ranging from grassland through to eucalypt forests . it is distributed throughout all but the western parts of queensland . active during the day , the eastern brown snake feeds on frogs , birds , mammals and reptiles . if provoked , the snake will rear up and adopt an s - shape strike posture , and will strike if cornered . it is uncommon in the settled areas of brisbane but occasional sightings do occur . more commonly it is found in bushland and rural areas of the greater brisbane area . the eastern brown snake grows to an average length of 1 . 5m .
this snake closely resembles the red - bellied black snake with a shiny black back and sides and a pink belly often with a row of dark spots . the pink does not extend onto the sides as it does in the red - bellied black snake . its eyes are minute and black and barely noticeable from surrounding scales . it favours dark areas under sheets of tin , rocks and bark on fallen logs and feeds on small reptiles and occasionally frogs . it is common throughout brisbane . the eastern small - eyed snake grows to an average length of 0 . 5m .
the marsh snake is olive to grey above with a grey to black belly . it has two narrow pale lines on each side of the face running through the upper lip and from the eye onto the neck . this snake preys on frogs and skinks and bears up to 20 live young . it is found throughout brisbane in wet areas including rainforest , creeks and wetlands . this small snake can grow up to 50cm .