Cacophis squamulosus
VENOM: Weakly venomous, bites may require medical assistance.
SIZE: Growing to 1m (Avg 60cm)
LOCAL DISTRIBUTION: The Golden Crowned Snake is considered a common species throughout the Gold Coast, Brisbane & Sunshine Coast, particularly within the hinterland regions.
HABITAT: Golden Crowned Snakes favour wet, humid habitats including wetsclerophyll forests, rocky outcrops and rainforest areas. This species is nocturnal and shelters beneath rocks, logs and moist leaf litter during the day.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:The Golden Crowned Snake is a dark brown to grey colour on top with a very distinct, incomplete crown. This marking runs along the snakes face from the snout backwards and finishes with two small parallel lines down the back of the nape. Unlike other species in South East Queensland, these lines do not meet to form an encompassing crown around the head and is therefore a highly identifiable characteristic of this snake. The bright orange underbelly in combination with the crown set these snakes apart from any other species in Queensland.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:The Golden Crown’s threat display is to raise their head and display the fire-orange ventral scales to ward of predators. Further harassment will result in bluff striking, much like all crown snakes however, this species is reluctant to bite. After each breeding season pregnant females give birth to between 2 and 15 eggs.
SIMILAR LOOKING SPECIES: DWARF CROWNED SNAKE, JUVENILE EASTERN BROWN 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.