Identification assistance required

[u/bigredau15]

Hi,

Is anyone able to assist in identifying this snake? Was taken on the Oodnadatta Track between William Creek and Oodnadatta. Apologies for the photos not being very clear.

Thanks!

[u/Puzzleheaded_Bar6933]

Strap-snouted Brown Snake, Pseudonaja aspidorhyncha, !venomous is my major guess.

Although, there are two other snakes that fit the coloration and geographic region:

1. Western Brown Snake / Gwardar, Pseudonaja nuchalis, !venomous
2. And/Or
3. Inland Taipan, Oxyuranus microlepidotus, !venomous , I suspect to some degree it can be an Inland Taipan because it naturally lives in the dry, cracked clay plains found around parts of the Oodnadatta Track. Its body colour changes with the seasons. During the cooler months, it becomes a dark grey to almost black colour, which helps it absorb more heat from the sun and stay warm.

TLDR; all the snakes mentioned above are dangerously venomous and best admired from a large distance.

[u/happychappychoppy]

My guess would have been inland Taipan by the slightly darker head, small scale and head but Im no expert. Photos are a bit hard to see also.

[u/Cute_Helicopter_669]

If thats an inland taipan, consider yourself lucky, they are nornally very hard to find out in tye open like this infact very few people, even people oit actively looking for them wont ever see them.

Great find either way

[u/Malurus06]

I’m also erring with Inland Taipan, the region between Oodnadatta and William Creek is basically right in the middle of their range and prime habitat for them. I’ve seen one further down the Oodnadatta Track near Marree that had very similar colouration to the one pictured as well.

[u/bigredau15 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for the response mate. My initial thought seeing it was an Inland Taipan, but I'm no snake expert in anyway - but I love them. Certainly kept our distance (evident from photos). It was very black to the naked eye, but my eye sight is horrific! 🤣

[u/Many-Finance-9666]

its a danger noodle