1 keelback, freshwater snake at Doonan, QLD
Identification history
| Tropidonophis mairii subsp. mairii | 20 Aug 2021 | PatrickCampbell | ||
| Tropidonophis mairii subsp. mairii | 26 Oct 2020 | Tapirlord | ||
| Unverified | 28 Jul 2019 | JBudgie |
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User's notes
Keelback snake?
5 comments
JBudgie
wrote:
29 Jul 2019
Keelback snake? or Rough Scaled snake? It was only small, as fat as my thumb.... maybe a juvenile?
Tapirlord
wrote:
26 Oct 2020
Yeah looks like a keelback snake, the lighting is problematic but I can see the patterning typical of this species.
PatrickCampbell
wrote:
18 Aug 2021
I agree that it looks like Tropidonophis mairii but we have to be very careful not to mistake it with the similar looking, dangerously venomous Rough-scaled Snake in this part of the world. Ideally we need better pics to be able to give a positive ID on this.
A key identifying feature to distinguish between these two species is that Keelbacks have a loreal scale, which is located between the nasal scale (the scale that surrounds the nostril) and the preocular scale (the scale immediately in front of the eye). The Rough-scaled Snake does not have this scale, so the nasal and preocular scales are in contact.
A key identifying feature to distinguish between these two species is that Keelbacks have a loreal scale, which is located between the nasal scale (the scale that surrounds the nostril) and the preocular scale (the scale immediately in front of the eye). The Rough-scaled Snake does not have this scale, so the nasal and preocular scales are in contact.
PatrickCampbell
wrote:
20 Aug 2021
Having said that and despite the fact that the presence or absence of a loreal scale is hard to determine from the photo, there are enough other identifying features (albeit more subtle) to somewhat tentatively identify this as a Keelback (also known as a Freshwater Snake). Namely, strongly keeled scales that tend to form longitudinal ridges down the back; a few black edges/marks on the upper lip scales; it looks like less body scale rows (~15, or 17 at most it seems) than that of a Rough-scaled Snake (Tropidechis carinatus) = 23; and a rounder, finer snout and larger eyes than is usually seen on a Roughy. Bear in mind that these last features are relative and sometimes hard to determine unless you're experienced and familiar with these two species of snake. It's also important to note that one is dangerously venomous, so you would not want to get it wrong.
By the way, this specimen has cloudy eyes, which indicates that it is due to shed its skin soon.
By the way, this specimen has cloudy eyes, which indicates that it is due to shed its skin soon.
PatrickCampbell
wrote:
20 Aug 2021
Having said that and despite the fact that the presence or absence of a loreal scale is hard to determine from the photo, there are enough other identifying features (albeit more subtle) to somewhat tentatively identify this as a Keelback (also known as a Freshwater Snake). Namely, strongly keeled scales that tend to form longitudinal ridges down the back; a few black edges/marks on the upper lip scales; it looks like less body scale rows (~15, or 17 at most it seems) than that of a Rough-scaled Snake (Tropidechis carinatus) = 23; and a rounder, finer snout and larger eyes than is usually seen on a Roughy. Bear in mind that these last features are relative and sometimes hard to determine unless you're experienced and familiar with these two species of snake. It's also important to note that one is dangerously venomous, so you would not want to get it wrong.
By the way, this specimen has cloudy eyes, which indicates that it is due to shed its skin soon.
By the way, this specimen has cloudy eyes, which indicates that it is due to shed its skin soon.
Location information
- Coordinates 152.988358-26.446853
- Altitude 90.6m
- Places Doonan, QLD
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- 28 Jul 2019 01:29 PM Recorded on
- JBudgie Recorded by
-
Collections
Reptiles and Frogs Snakes JBudgie NatureMapr Tropidonophis mairii subsp. mairii
Species information
- Tropidonophis mairii subsp. mairii Scientific name
- keelback, freshwater snake Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 90.56m Recorded at altitude
Record quality
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes