Vermicella annulata
VENOM: Weakly venomous, bites may require medical treatment.
SIZE: Growing to roughly 85cm (Avg 60cm)
LOCAL DISTRIBUTION: The Bandy Bandy is considered a common snake species throughout the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Scenic Rim regions.
HABITAT: Bandy Bandy’s inhabit almost all habitat types from rainforest to open woodlands and dry sclerophyll forests.This species can be frequently encountered taking shelter under logs, rocks and debris during the day. Though not regularly encountered by people this species has been recorded within relatively suburban areas where suitable habitat persists.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Bandy Bandy is black in colour and heavily banded from head to tail with white bands. The head is not distinct from the body and rounded in shape, giving them a fairly streamline appearance. As a result of their burrowing nature, the eyes having been reduced to small black dots that can be difficult to distinguish from the body.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: When threatened, Bandy Bandy’s lift portions of their body into a series of raised ‘loops’ in order to make themselves look more intimidating. This snake is known to feed exclusively on the ‘Blind Snake’. After each breeding season pregnant females give birth to approximately 8 eggs.
SIMILAR LOOKING SPECIES: STEPHENS BANDED SNAKE
It’s important to realise that many species of snake can vary in colour, pattern and size. This often makes it very hard to make a positive identification of the snake. You should always assume that a snake is highly venomous, keep your family and pets at a safe distance and call a Gold Coast snake catcher.