Drysdalia coronoides

3 White-lipped Snake at Rendezvous Creek, ACT

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Identification history

Drysdalia coronoides	29 Apr 2019	GeoffRobertson
Drysdalia coronoides	29 Apr 2019	roymcd
Unidentified	29 Apr 2019	roymcd

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User's notes

Just a little tiddler, not much longer than the palm of my hand, warming itself on the path. Mistook it for a twig and almost stood on it, mercifully it didn't strike.

6 comments

GeoffRobertson wrote:

30 Apr 2019

Great photo.

roymcd wrote:

30 Apr 2019

Thanks Geoff. I'm wondering, how toxic is their venom? Cheers, Roy.

WillO wrote:

30 Apr 2019

Good question. White-lipped snakes will bite quite readily if handled. Venomous but not regarded as dangerous, however reaction to bite could vary between people. Will.

MatthewFrawley wrote:

30 Apr 2019

Interesting to hear that they bite quite readily if handled. I was lucky the one I saw not far from this sighting in March 2018 was probably a bit cold because it didn't move for many minutes and I was actually able to touch it. See:

Drysdalia coronoides (White-lipped Snake) on 12 Mar 2018

roymcd wrote:

30 Apr 2019

Well you've got more guts than me Matthew, I was scared it might be a juvenile Eastern Brown, so I didn't venture any further... :-)
Nice sighting yours too :-)

MatthewFrawley wrote:

2 May 2019

I think it was ignorance more than guts. I knew mine was a White-lipped Snake when I touched it but was unaware it was venomous, but on reflection I should have expected so. It was so small, I couldn't really imagine it causing me much harm. The snake in your sighting looks a bit browner than mine, so I can see why you were very cautious.

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