Curl Snake

About the Curl Snake

The curl snake (Suta suta) is a species of venomous, heavily built snake in the family Elapidae. The species, which is native to Australia, is also known more commonly in Western Australia as the myall snake. The curl snake is often confused with a similar species named the Ord curl snake (Suta ordensis).

The typical length of the curl snake is 40 cm (16 in), although it has been known to reach lengths of 60 cm (24 in) or more. It has a wide head and is dark brown or reddish brown in colour, with a distinctively darker head and paler under the flanks. The light-coloured iris and small pupil are distinctive features of this species. S. suta also has a temporal dark-edged stripe (typically orange in colour) that extends around from each eye to the snout. Sometimes, the edges of the vertebral scales can be darker, resulting in a reticulated pattern from which the Latin name suta, meaning "stitched", is derived.

Scale count information for identification: Dorsal scale rows at mid-body – 19 to 21, normally in 19 rows and rarely in 21 Ventrals – 150 to 170 with a single cloacal scale Subcaudals – 20 to 35 single (undivided) scales Wikipedia →