12/24/2022 0 Comments Albino inland taipan![]() ![]() The Eastern Brown shelters in hollow logs, rock crevices, unused animal burrows, and under rubbish around buildings. Because of this, they come in contact with man frequently, and account for most of the recorded snake bites in Australia. Eastern Browns have readily adapted to farmed, grazed, and semi-urban environments. It is particularly prevalent in open grasslands, pastures, and woodlands. It will live in most habitats except rainforest. The Eastern Brown Snake lives throughout the eastern half of Australia, except in Tasmania. The average length is about 1.5 metres (4.9 ft), but Eastern Browns can grow up to a formidable 2.4 m (7.8 ft) in length. Studies both in the field and the laboratory have shown that a defensive strike is made only as a last resort. Like most other snakes, the Eastern Brown will avoid a confrontation with a large animal such as a person, fleeing rapidly towards shelter instead. Brown Tree Snakes, which are also a coppery colour, usually hunt at night, often climb trees, and have a slender neck with a distinct head. It is active during the day, and is terrestrial. This distinguishes it from the Taipan, which has a long tapering head, with a definite ridge over the eye, and from most pythons, which have a head distinct from the neck. The Eastern Brown Snake has a slender body, with a short, rounded head, indistinct from the neck. ![]() Some juveniles have no stripes, but have darker tips to their scales, giving a reticulated appearance. These stripes fade over the next few years as the snake matures. The rest of the body is often striped with dark grey or black. Juveniles are even more variable in colour the top of the head is usually black, with a red or orange stripe just behind this, followed by another dark band. If poised to strike, the snake will coil its body into an S-shape. These can be seen if the snake is close enough to feel threatened, and raises its head up off the ground. The belly is cream, yellow or orange, with characteristic orange or dark grey blotches. The colour of the scales varies, but in general adult Eastern Brown Snakes are a uniform pale to dark brown above, although they may be black or even orange. Knowing a little about both its appearance and its behaviour, especially compared to other snakes in the same area, not only helps to avoid an unwanted encounter, but deepens our understanding and appreciation of these fascinating reptiles. This is rarely practical when you glimpse a snake darting away from you in the bush. The only reliable way to identify most snakes is by counting the rows of scales across the back in mid- body, and noting the pattern of scales on the head and under the tail. There are many Australian snakes which are brown-coloured, and the Eastern Brown can vary from very pale brown to reddish or almost black in colour. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?Īs is true for most Australian snakes, the colour is highly variable, and cannot be used to identify this species. This snake is also known as the Common Brown Snake. Put it all together, and the scientific name means: ‘woven false cobra’. The species name ‘ textilis’ is a Latin word meaning ‘woven fabric’ and refers to the reticulated pattern of dark-tipped scales often seen on the back of the snake Tracing the word ‘n aja’ to its origins takes us to the Sanskrit language naga is the Sanskrit word for serpent. The Eastern Brown is not a cobra but is a member of the elapid family of snakes (venomous snakes with fixed fangs at the front of the jaw). ![]() This could refer to the behaviour of the brown snake when threatened: Like a cobra, it will raise the front part of its body, flatten and inflate the neck area, and sway from side to side. The genus name Pseudonaja is from the Greek word ‘ pseudis’ meaning ‘false’ and from the species name for cobra, ‘n aja’, so it means ‘false cobra’. ![]()
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