THE REPTILES OF AUSTRALIA - ELAPIDS

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
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REPTILES OF THE WORLD SPECIES LISTS


SPECTACLED SNAKE
or
Mallee Black-Headed Snake

Suta spectabilis

(was Parasuta spectabilis spectabilis)

Mildly venomous - normally considered harmless
However dangerous species may be mistaken for this species!

Note that there are now no valid subspecies of Parasuta spectabilis

(snakes previously known as Parasuta spectabilis nullarbor and
Parasuta spectabilis bushi are now called Parasuta gouldii)

This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken near Dublin, South Australia
This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia


Approximate distributon of the Spectacled snake Parasuta spectabilis
Approximate distribution of the Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis)


This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia
This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia


This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia
This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia


This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia
This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia


This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia
This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia


This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia
This photo of a baby Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia


This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia
This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia



This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia
This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia


Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis)
Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis)


Spectacled snake Parasuta spectabilis spectabilis
This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia

Note the patterning within the black area of the top of its head. There are often some pale scales in this region on this species.

SPECTACLED SNAKE Parasuta spectabilis
The photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) above was taken, without disturbing the snake in the wild which was found under a sheet of corrugated iron. This mildly venomous snake is considered harmless and is extremely common in some areas.


Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis)
This photo of a Spectacled Snake (Suta spectabilis) was taken north of the Adelaide Metropolitan area, South Australia

Note that in the Adelaide area this small species is often confused with the Little Whip Snake (Parasuta flagellum) which is also found close to the city and looks extremely similar. The Little Whip Snake (Parasuta flagellum) tends to be in the Mt. Lofty Ranges and Adelaide Hills particularly south and east of the city. The Spectacled Snake (Parasuta spectabilis) tends to be on the coastal plains to the North and West of the City and hills north of the Adelaide area, (it has 15 mid body scales). The Little Whip Snake (Parasuta flagellum) sometimes has a large fat tail (sexual dimorphism?) and tends to have a more solid black hood marking, compared to the spectacled (it has 15-17 mid body scales)


SIMILAR SPECIES

 

COMMON NAME (INTERNAL LINK)

SCIENTIFIC NAME

DISTRIBUTION

Pilbara Hooded Snake

Suta gaikhorstorum
(split from Suta [was Parasuta] monachus)

WA (Pilbara region)

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?

Dwyer's Snake
(Status uncertain)

Suta (was Parasuta) dwyeri

NSW, SA, Vic, Qld, ACT



Click here to see photos of Spectacled Snakes (Suta spectabilis) at flickr
Click here to see photos of Spectacled Snakes (Suta spectabilis) at flickr

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

RECOMMENDED AMAZON BOOKS
(Affiliate commission earned)

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

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases


OTHER LINKS

Find a Random Species of Australian Reptile

Visit the Australian Herpetology Website


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Elapids

Elapids

Elapids
of
The World

Elapids
of
Australia

AUSTRALIAN 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
of
Victoria

Elapids
of
ACT

Elapids
of
Tasmania

AUSTRALIAN 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
of
Victoria

Reptiles
of
NSW

Reptiles
of
Qld

Reptiles
of
NT

Reptiles
of
WA

Reptiles
of the
ACT

Reptiles of Tasmania

MORE REPTILE SPECIES LISTS

Reptiles of Lord Howe Island

Reptiles of Christmas Island

Reptiles
of Cocos Keeling Islands

Reptiles of Norfolk Island


Reptiles of Australia

Selection of Australian Frogs

Reptiles of the World

Amphibians of the World

Reptiles
of
Australia

Frogs
of
Australia

Reptiles
of
The World

Amphibians of the
World




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Contact John Fowler Author of the Australian Herpetology Website

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

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Updated April 8, 2024


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