Carpentaria Snake
Cryptophis boschmai
A small, slender elapid restricted to the savanna country around the Gulf of Carpentaria.
- Venomous?
- Venomous
- Adult length
- 0.3-0.5 m (12-20 in)
- Range
- Gulf of Carpentaria region, northern Australia
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Overview
The Carpentaria snake is a diminutive elapid endemic to the Gulf Country of northern Australia. It is part of the Cryptophis group of small, secretive Australian elapids often confused with harmless colubrids or blind snakes at a glance.
Its restricted range and cryptic habits mean it is infrequently recorded, and much of its natural history is inferred from related species.
How to identify it
- Small, slim-bodied snake with smooth glossy scales
- Uniform brown to reddish-brown dorsal coloration
- Head barely distinct from neck
- Pale ventral surface
- Best distinguished from similar small elapids by locality and minor scalation traits
Habitat & range
Restricted to savanna woodland and grassland habitats around the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland and the Northern Territory, often in areas with cracking clay soils.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Secretive and likely nocturnal, sheltering under surface debris and in soil cracks. Diet is believed to consist of small lizards, following the pattern of related Cryptophis species. Reproduces by laying eggs.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Carpentaria snake found?
Only around the Gulf of Carpentaria region of northern Australia.
Is it dangerous to humans?
It is venomous but small, secretive, and very rarely encountered.
How big does it get?
It is a small snake, typically under half a meter long.
What does it eat?
Presumed to feed mainly on small lizards.
Carpentaria Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Carpentaria Snake.
