Happy Herping Holidays! For those of you that are ophidiophobic (extreme fear of snakes) you may want to move along to the next post now 😳 First snake is a close up of a Common Death Adder wiki link for more info
Next up is a Childrens Python. wiki info here Some of you know my son just returned from a herping trip to Australia.
Herping is the act of searching for amphibians or reptiles.[1][2] The term, often used by professional and amateur herpetologists, comes from the word "herp", which comes from the same Greek root as herpetology, herpet-, meaning "creeping". The term herp is a shorthand used to refer to the two classes of ectothermic tetrapods (i.e., amphibians and reptiles).
definition from wikipedia
I've posted some Australian landscapes and lizards now its time for the snakes.
Eastern Brown Snake wiki info here is quite venomous. While snakes are a curiousity in most of the US, in Australia there 145 (out of 220 total species) venomous snakes. The high percentage of venomous snakes makes them a hazard.
Southern Shovel Nosed Snake wiki link has a nice colorful pattern. My son and his travel companion both have biology degrees and a deep interest in snakes.
They have been on many herping trips together. On foreign trips they always hire knowledgeable local guides. And are always very cautious. You should not approach snakes without knowledge and respect for the species.
Another Brown Snake. There are 9 species of Brown Snake in Australia.
Orange Naped Snake with wikipedia link. I'm sticking to wiki links for consistency. Wikipedia is a good starting point if you are interested in any of these snakes. There are better and more in depth articles elsewhere but wiki articles are usually consistent and provide a decent overview.
I'm not an expert on identification and some of these photos aren't immediately identifiable. Another good reason to be cautious about approaching snakes in the wild.
The Olive Python is endemic to Australia Wikipedia info here
Northern Brown Snake can vary in coloration but often have a jet black head like this one.
The Black Headed Python is sometimes confused with the Northern Brown Snake due to a similar colored head but the body pattern and shape are quite different. Black Headed Python You can also tell by how close the picture was taken lol you don't want to be this close to a brown snake 😅
Another Brown Snake likely a Western. Many of these photos were taken at night on a highway like this one. They travelled from northern Australia all the way to the south to visit as many different habitats as possible.
Brown Tree Snake Just what you need if you are a bit squeamish about snakes, snakes in trees 🤦♂️ Hope you enjoyed a few pictures of snakes from Australia.
All these photos were taken by my son and used with permission.
