This profile is pending review by a qualified herpetologist. Never rely on it to decide whether a snake is safe to approach.
Overview
A non-venomous constrictor that feeds mainly on rodents. When threatened it draws its neck into an S-shape and strikes with an open mouth, which can look alarming.
How to recognise it
- 1Brown body with a black-and-white chain or ladder pattern on the front half
- 2Black line running back from the eye and two dark stripes on the neck
- 3Rear body plainer, with dark stripes along the sides
Where it lives
Forests, scrub, plantations and home gardens across much of the island, often near rodent-rich buildings.
