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Copperhead snake

Austrelaps superbus

Photo by MartinL
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Small (I.5m) docile venomous snake with copper colored head grey with typical "collar"of light scales behind the head.

Habitat:

Woodlands and slopes of eastern Australia.

Notes:

This snake was awakened from his sleep under concrete slab. We were preparing a building site for our house burned in 2009 bushfires. This snake was not docile. You can see his skin shedding - it is not injured at all. Yes, I did release it.

Reference Links:

EOL: Image, Google Image Result for http://museumvictoria.com.au/forest/images/mr006727_md…

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (11)
Mark Ridgway
A truly dreadful day we'll never forget. You're right AshishNimkar - these events are always associated with very strong winds. This event also followed a record breaking drought so vegetation was ready to explode. 173 human lives lost and unimaginable numbers of wildlife. Only good stories from here on.
MartinL
Oh, Danielle. While there's lots of wildlife and insects recover easily, very many Eucalyptus trees have perished. Most Eucalypts, except mountain ash have evolved to cope with periodical fires but this was the hottest day on record and the fire way too ferocious. I believe in nature and there will be many homes for bats and birds and possums and reptiles and beetles in the dead trees. I'm sad but also happy.
Ashish
I think wind is fueling lot in vast Bush fires... Australia is a giant ground place and wind is so lot...
HemaShah
Sorry about the fire. Australia is so rich in wild life. Ace Bourke of the lovable " Christian The Lion" fame is from Australia too!
DanielePralong
Hi Martin, I'm a former Melbourne resident and I used to often go to the Marysville area for bushwalking. It's great to hear that nature is recovering so well!
MartinL
Yes, I used to keep pet ones too when I was young. Not anymore. Not good for handling either.
JamieDorton
They dont look anything like our Copperheads...Look @ my spottings. I used to keep one as a pet.
MartinL
Just added pic of the former house on this photostream. This is my acre block (well 5 acres) of nature and is recovering spectacularly.
Carol Snow Milne
Hope you are doing well now and recovering from the fire. Sorry to hear that. I thought I was afraid of spiders, but probably snakes worse. Great photos. Mr. Snake Handler, HA!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
Reptiles and Amphibians of Woodstock

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Photographed
PublishedNovember 18, 2011

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