How to Identify the White-Lipped Snake (Identification Guide)
The White-Lipped Snake is a small, cold-tolerant Australian elapid identified by the distinct pale stripe running along its upper lip.
Read the full White-Lipped Snake encyclopedia entry →
Key identifying features
The White-Lipped Snake (Drysdalia coronoides) is a small, mildly venomous elapid native to southeastern Australia and Tasmania. Its defining feature is a clear, pale cream to white stripe running along the upper lip, contrasting with the darker coloration of the head and body, which gives the species its common name.
Coloration & pattern
The body color varies from grey-brown to reddish-brown or olive along the back, generally without strong blotching, sometimes with a faint darker vertebral line. The belly ranges from orange to red or pink, often becoming more vivid toward the tail. The white or cream upper lip stripe is the most reliable field mark, clearly visible along the side of the head just below the eye.
Head, eyes & scales
The head is small and only slightly distinct from the neck. Eyes are small with round pupils, typical of Australian elapids. Scales are smooth. The pale lip stripe extends along the edge of the upper jaw and is the primary identifying feature of the species.
Size & body shape
This is a small snake, with adults typically reaching 30–45 cm (12–18 in), occasionally slightly larger. The body is slender and cylindrical, adapted to cool-climate ground-dwelling life.
Range & habitat where you'll see it
The White-Lipped Snake is found across southeastern Australia, including Victoria, Tasmania, and parts of South Australia and New South Wales, extending into alpine and subalpine habitats. It favors grassland, heath, open woodland, and rocky areas, often at higher elevations, sheltering under rocks, logs, and leaf litter, and is one of the more cold-tolerant Australian elapids, active even in cooler weather.
How to tell it apart from look-alikes
The distinct white or cream stripe along the upper lip is the clearest way to distinguish this species from other small, similarly colored elapids in its range, most of which lack this marking. Its small size, orange to red belly, and preference for cooler, higher-elevation habitats further help separate it from other ground-dwelling snakes sharing its range.
Frequently asked questions
What is the defining feature of the White-Lipped Snake?
A clear pale cream to white stripe running along the upper lip, which gives the species its common name.
Is the White-Lipped Snake dangerous?
It is a mildly venomous elapid generally considered low risk to humans due to its small size, though it should not be handled.
Where does the White-Lipped Snake live?
It is found across southeastern Australia and Tasmania, often in cooler, higher-elevation grassland, heath, and woodland habitats.
How big does the White-Lipped Snake get?
Adults typically reach 30–45 cm in length.