The Australian snake that's white with a black head (or often a black body with a distinct white "crown" band) is the White-crowned Snake (Cacophis harriettae), a small, nocturnal, mildly venomous snake found in moist eastern Australian forests, woodlands, and gardens, known for its glossy dark brown/grey body and distinctive white head marking.
About the Eastern Bandy-bandy Snake
The Eastern Bandy-bandy Snake has a distinct pattern of alternating black and white bands down the length of their body and can grow to 60 cm, with females tending to be larger.
Description. White-crowned snakes are dark brown or steely grey with a white or yellowish stripe across their neck. They can grow to 40cm in length and are venomous but not classed as dangerous.
They are found across northern Australia, from Western Australia right through to Queensland and although the black-headed python is a camouflage expert, they are often spotted by the keen eye of our Australian raptors!
The venom of the Red-Necked Keelback contains both hemotoxic and neurotoxic components. While not typically fatal to humans, their bites can cause significant pain and medical complications. Despite their venomous nature, these snakes are generally non-aggressive and will only bite if threatened or provoked.
The keelback's name comes from its distinguishing feature of strongly keeled scales (rather than being smooth, the scales have a ridge down the centre making them rough to the touch). The scales are in 15 rows at the mid-body. Keelbacks are harmless, but look very similar to venemous rough-scaled snakes.
The snake known as the "silent killer" is the Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus), a highly venomous snake in India and South Asia, nicknamed this because its bite is often painless and symptoms (like paralysis) can be delayed for hours, making it hard to realize you've been bitten until it's too late. These nocturnal snakes have potent neurotoxic venom that affects the nervous system, and their secretive nature adds to the danger.
It sometimes strikes with a closed mouth, but generally can be handled easily. It is a strong swimmer, but is almost never found in water. It is not venomous.
The striped whipsnake (Masticophis taeniatus) is a nonvenomous species known for its black dorsal side and its white, vertical stripe. However, it can also come in other colors, such as brown or olive green. It is native to the western region of the United States and the northernmost region of Mexico.
With the exception of a white chin, black racers are typically solid black both above and below, unlike the black rat snakes of Piedmont N.C. which display a ventral (underside) surface that's usually checkered black and white. Racers also tend to be slimmer, a trait that aids in their ability to move swiftly.
Pure white is not a common color in the natural world, especially when it comes to snakes. Although unusual, there are some snakes with white colors and patterns. Many all-white snakes in the wild are the result of rare genetic mutations, like albinism and leucism.
The Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is Australia's most venomous snake, possessing the most toxic venom of any land snake in the world, with a single bite holding enough potency to kill over 100 adult humans, though it's shy and rarely encountered in remote regions. Other highly dangerous snakes include the Eastern Brown Snake (responsible for more bites), Coastal Taipan, Tiger Snake, and Death Adder, notes Australia's Geographic and First Aid Pro.
Due to their size, black racers can and do eat all sorts of critters — even other snakes! They also eat lizards, frogs, and of course rodents. This means you actually may want them around if you've got a rat problem on your property or are sick of those Cuban tree frogs everywhere.
Like the Southern Dwarf Crowned and Golden Crowned snakes, the white crowned snake is considered to be weakly venomous.
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All of the following common snakes are not venomous:
The Bandy Bandy is a venomous, nocturnal snake of which there are five known species. Covered in striking black and white stripes, the Bandy Bandy is one of Australia's most iconic reptiles.
The gray ratsnake is black with faint blotches, whereas the northern watersnake is dark brown with faint banding. The eastern foxsnake has a yellow to light brown body with brown blotches down its back and two alternating rows of smaller blotches along the sides.
However, it's possible to distinguish these patterns. Coral snakes will have a red color that touches yellow, while non-venomous snakes, like the scarlet king, will have red against black.
Brown snakes hunt by actively looking for prey and searching in likely hiding places. They have good eyesight and once prey is detected they will give chase and subdue the prey using both venom and constriction.
While we do not advocate for relocation, it is undoubtedly a better option than killing a snake. With relocation at least snakes have a chance for survival, however small. Never attempt to relocate a rattlesnake (or an unidentified snake) yourself, as an untrained person is at risk for snake bite.
A Mount Marlow woman has survived a bite from a coastal taipan, one of the most venomous snakes in Australia. She was flown to hospital in Mackay after being treated with antivenom.
Many countries in Europe and Asia keep mongoose as pets for the purpose of warding against snakes. Due to the little animal's tendency to eat other creatures, its importation into other countries has been regulated.
Local mythology states that if you kill a cobra, its mate will come and kill you in revenge. Perhaps getting to the bottom of this famous cobra myth will reveal something about a snake Mark has never caught in the wild, a snake that delivers enough venom to kill ten men, the King cobra.
Renowned for its speed and aggression, the black mamba has one of the fastest-acting venoms among snakes. It is responsible for numerous fatalities in sub-Saharan Africa. Time to Fatality: A bite can lead to death within 20 to 30 minutes if no medical intervention occurs.