THE REPTILES OF AUSTRALIA - ELAPIDS

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
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REPTILES OF THE WORLD SPECIES LISTS


LITTLE WHIP SNAKE
Suta flagellum
(was Parasuta flagellum )

Venomous - normally considered harmless - and although one death has occurred after a bite of this species, there were other complications involved.
However dangerous species may be mistaken for this species!

Little Whip Snake Parasuta flagellum
This Little Whip Snake (Suta flagellum) was found under a small rock at Ballarat, Victoria, where a similar sized baby Brown snake was also hiding. Notice the fat tail often seen on this species.

Little Whip Snake Parasuta flagellum
This Little Whip Snake (Suta flagellum) was photographed near Nairne, South Australia


Little Whip Snake Parasuta flagellum
This Little Whip Snake (Suta flagellum) was photographed near Nairne, South Australia


This Little Whip Snake (Suta flagellum) was photographed near Cherry Gardens, South Australia
This Little Whip Snake (Suta flagellum) was photographed near Cherry Gardens, South Australia
Notice the dark edges on the scales, which are usually seen on this species


LITTLE WHIP SNAKE Parasuta flagellum  
Notice the fat tail often seen on Little Whip Snakes (Suta flagellum)

LITTLE WHIP SNAKE Parasuta flagellum map
Notice that I have not been able to find any records of Little Whip Snakes (Suta flagellum) occurring in Canberra, ACT however they have been found close to the ACT border and are likely to occur there.

LITTLE WHIP SNAKE Parasuta flagellum
Little Whip Snake (Suta flagellum)

This small mildly venomous snake is generally considered to be harmless - note that I have been bitten by little whip snakes a couple of times (with only minor discomfort), however someone did die after a bite from this species once, but apparently the person had other health problems which contributed to his death.

Note that in the Adelaide area this species is easily confused with the Spectacled Hooded Snake (Parasuta spectabilis) which is also found close to the city and looks extremely similar. The Spectacled Snake may have some "brown" markings on the black hood and normally has 15 dorsal scales at midbody

The Little Whip Snake Parasuta flagellum tends to be in the Mt Lofty Ranges and Adelaide Hills particularly south and east of the city whereas the Spectacled Hooded Snake (Parasuta spectabilis) tends to be on the coastal plains and hills to the North West of the City and north of the Adelaide area. The Little Whip Snake (Parasuta flagellum) sometimes has a fat tail (sexual dimorphism?) and appears to have a more consistent head marking and normally has 15-17 dorsal scales at midbody.


SIMILAR SPECIES

 

COMMON NAME (INTERNAL LINK)

SCIENTIFIC NAME
(EXTERNAL LINK)

DISTRIBUTION

Gould's Hooded Snake

Suta (was Parasuta) gouldii
(Now also includes snakes previously known as Parasuta spectabilis nullarbor and
Parasuta spectabilis bushi)

WA, SA

Monk Snake or Hooded Snake

Suta (was Parasuta) monachus

NT, SA, WA

Mallee Black-backed Snake or Mitchell's Short Tailed Snake (Status uncertain)

Suta (was Parasuta) nigriceps (Status uncertain)

WA, SA?

Spectacled Hooded Snake

Suta (was Parasuta) spectabilis

NSW, Qld, SA, Vic

Dwyer's Snake
(Status uncertain)

Suta (was Parasuta) dwyeri

NSW, SA, Vic, Qld, ACT




LINKS OF INTEREST


Herpetology2020 - What’s Under the Hood
Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Snake Genera Parasuta and Suta (Squamata: Elapidae), with A Description of A New Species from the Pilbara, Western Australia
Species New to Science


Click here for more Information about Australian Elapid Snakes

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Australian Snakes In Captivity (A Guide to) Working with Snakes: A comprehensive information and training manual for professional Australasian snake consultants Kindle Edition

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Elapids

Elapids

Elapids
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The World

Elapids
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Australia




ELAPID SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY



Elapids of South Australia

ELAPID SNAKES OF NSW

Qld ELAPID SNAKES - Elapidae Cobras Coral Snakes

NT ELAPID SNAKES - Elapidae Cobras Coral Snakes

WA ELAPID SNAKES - Elapidae Cobras Coral Snakes

ELAPID SNAKES OF VICTORIA

Elapids of ACT

ELAPIDS OF TASMANIA

Elapids
of South
Australia

Elapids
of
NSW

Elapids
of
Qld

Elapids
of
NT

Elapids
of
WA

Elapids
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Victoria

Elapids
of
ACT

Elapids
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Tasmania




REPTILE SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY

Reptiles of South Australia
REPTILES OF VICTORIA
REPTILES OF NSW REPTILES OF QUEENSLAND REPTILES OF NORTHERN TERRITORY REPTILES OF Western Australia Reptiles of the ACT(Canberra)

Reptiles of South Australia

Reptiles
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Reptiles
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NSW

Reptiles
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Reptiles
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Reptiles of Tasmania




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Reptiles of Australia

Selection of Australian Frogs

Reptiles of the World

Amphibians of the World

Reptiles
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Frogs
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Reptiles
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Amphibians of the
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About John Fowler | About John Hollister | Report Faulty Link | Report an Error

Contact John Fowler Author of the Australian Herpetology Website, Pythons of the World, - Owner of the Adelaide Reptile Forum

Contact John Hollister Author of John Hollister Reptile Collection - Herping the Trans-Pecos & Sweetwater, Texas Rattlesnake Roundup

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Updated March 22, 2023


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