Austrelaps ramsayi

1 Highlands Copperhead at Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

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Identification history

Austrelaps ramsayi	5 Oct 2018	MichaelMulvaney
Austrelaps ramsayi	19 Jun 2018	PatrickCampbell
Pseudechis porphyriacus	4 Apr 2018	wombey
Unverified	3 Apr 2018	George

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User's notes

Observation by Kelly Mullen - very unperturbed by human activity held observers hostage in hut

6 comments

wombey wrote:

5 Apr 2018

It looks like a Red -bellied Black in the process of sloughing. Any other thoughts or ids before we sign off on this?

WillO wrote:

5 Apr 2018

Given the location John I was thinking another possibility is Highlands Copperhead (perhaps shedding as well) . I hadnt realised that RBB snakes can get that light brown colour when shedding. I guess it is down to three possibilities - RBBS, Tiger Snake (head not the right shape?) or Highlands Copper head. Body shape not right (too stocky?) for Eastern Brown Snake. I wonder if the photographer has another photograph they can send us or add.

wombey wrote:

6 Apr 2018

All of the above worried me too. I think the misleading colour could be a result of light tricks given the skin is starting to lift. If I saw only the head I would have had to say RBB but I agree, if the photographer has other images, please submit them, especially if of different angles. None of the other likely suspects really fit even with the odd dorsal colour here. In the absence of other images I am still inclined to RBB.

George wrote:

6 Apr 2018

Hi all
am seeking another photo to help with Id and special hi to Will :0
regards
Kathy (eyles)

MichaelBedingfield wrote:

14 Apr 2018

Re your question "How do I add 2 more images as requested by moderators - it wasn't obvious on the edit page (no button)":
After clicking on Edit, slide the images from your desktop into the upper rectangle.

PatrickCampbell wrote:

20 Jun 2018

I reckon this is a Highlands Copperhead (Austrelaps ramsayi).
Reasons being, the relatively small head is distinctly different in colour to the body colouration i.e slatey-grey head distinct from brown dorsum, separated by a yellowish collar, which you won't find in Pseudechis porphyriacus. The yellow flanks visible in the photo is also a distinguishing feature of A. ramsayi, along with indications of black edging to the pale yellow lateral scales. Whereas, RBB's never have pale yellow flanks.
I can only count about 15 mid-body scale rows, which is the usual number for Copperheads, as opposed to 17 for Red-bellies.

Whereabouts is the location given, as Willo mentions "given the locality" but I can't see it anywhere?

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Location information

Sighting information

1 Abundance
11 Mar 2018 11:09 AM Recorded on
George Recorded by
Collections
My flagged sightings George Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Snakes Reptiles and Frogs

Species information

Austrelaps ramsayi Scientific name
Highlands Copperhead Common name
Not Sensitive
Local native
Non-invasive or negligible
Up to 1759.9m Recorded at altitude
131 images trained Machine learning

Record quality

Images or audio
More than one media file
Verified by an expert moderator
Nearby sighting(s) of same species
GPS evidence of location
Description
Additional attributes

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Queensland

Northern Territory

Western Australia

South Australia

Victoria

Tasmania