White-Crowned Snake
Cacophis harriettae
A small, secretive nocturnal elapid with a pale crown-like marking on its head, rarely encountered due to its burrowing habits.
- Venomous?
- Mildly venomous
- Adult length
- 0.3-0.5 m (1-1.6 ft)
- Range
- Eastern Australia, from central Queensland to northern New South Wales
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Overview
The White-Crowned Snake is a diminutive member of the crowned snake genus Cacophis, found along the eastern seaboard of Australia. It spends most of its life hidden beneath logs, leaf litter, and rocks, only rarely surfacing at night.
Despite possessing venom, it is considered of little medical significance to humans because of its small size and reluctance to bite.
How to identify it
- Slender body, dark grey to blackish-brown dorsally
- Distinctive pale cream or white band across the back of the head, resembling a crown
- Smooth, glossy scales
- Small rounded head barely distinct from neck
- Round pupil
- Adults typically 30-50 cm
- Distinguished from similar crowned snakes by the shape and completeness of the pale head band
Habitat & range
Found in moist forests, woodlands, and rainforest margins along the east coast. Shelters under decaying logs, bark, rocks, and in leaf litter, favoring humid microhabitats near water.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Strictly nocturnal and secretive, rarely seen in the open. Feeds primarily on small skinks. Egg-laying, with clutches of a few eggs deposited in moist, sheltered sites during the warmer months.
Frequently asked questions
Is the White-Crowned Snake dangerous to humans?
It is mildly venomous but considered harmless to humans due to its small size and shy nature.
Where does the White-Crowned Snake live?
It inhabits moist forests and woodlands of eastern Australia, from Queensland to New South Wales.
What does the White-Crowned Snake eat?
It preys mainly on small skinks found in leaf litter and under debris.
How can you identify a White-Crowned Snake?
Look for a small dark snake with a distinctive pale crown-shaped band across the back of its head.
White-Crowned Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding White-Crowned Snake.
