Is this a snake

Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 15:43
ThreadID: 92817 Views:4547 Replies:4 FollowUps:12
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Hi there,
I just caught this near my back door we live on the Darling Downs. Is this a snake or legless lizard?

Image Could Not Be Found
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Last summer we had over 20 resident green frogs around our patio. This year only
a couple. Should I be worried that there is a big mummy around?

Thanks
Sharon
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Reply By: The Explorer - Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 16:49

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 16:49
Hi
Looks like a small whipsnake - based on your location probably a Yellow-faced Whipsnake. I would not worry about them...leave them alone and they will leave you alone.

Cheers
Greg
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

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Follow Up By: Member - Old Girl - Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 18:19

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 18:19
Thanks Greg. So far this seasoni have lifted rocks off three red belly blacks and stood on one brown.
Cheers
Sharon
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Reply By: NRK - Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 17:06

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 17:06
Species name: Yellow-faced Whip Snake (Demansia psammophis)

Other Common names: Whip Snake, Grass Snake

Significance to Humans: Potentially Dangerous.
especially if children involved.
Bite may cause localised pain & severe symptoms. Apply correct first aid and seek medical attention.

General description: Very slender snake with long, thin whip-like tail. Large prominent eyes. Colour generally pale olive or bluish-grey, often with rusty flush or longitudinal stripes along front-third of body. Belly grayish-green, often yellowish under tail. Distinctive face markings. Obvious pale cream or yellow rim around eye, with dark comma-shaped marking curving back below eye. Dark bar or line with pale edges runs across front of snout from nostril-to-nostril. Scales smooth.
Midbody scales at 15 rows.

Average Length: 65-70cm, but specimens up to 80cm have been recorded locally.

Habitat in SE Qld: Dry open areas, open forest, woodland, grassland and a frequent species around homes.
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Follow Up By: Member - Old Girl - Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 18:15

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 18:15
Thankyou for the quick reply.
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Reply By: SDG - Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 19:13

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 19:13
For future reference, Lizards have eyelids while snakes do not. Hence why snakes will outstare you.
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Follow Up By: Member - Old Girl - Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 20:11

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 20:11
Ew yep got it. Thanks
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Follow Up By: The Explorer - Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 20:12

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 20:12
Hi

Not true - some lizards dont have a moveable eye lid (i.e they cant blink).

"Most reptiles have eyelids and nictitating membranes; however, in snakes and some lizards (especially geckos and skinks), the eyelids are fused and transparent forming the spectacle" Search - Do reptiles have eyelids

Cheers
Greg
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

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Follow Up By: The Explorer - Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 20:14

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 20:14
PS - snakes dont have ear holes if you a looking for a defining feature to distinguish from legless lizards ..though they can be hard to spot on smaller lizard species and a hand lense then comes in handy.

Cheers
Greg
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

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Follow Up By: SDG - Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 21:56

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 21:56
For some reason I did not type a key word. Should have been legless lizard.

Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with many more joints than their lizard ancestors, enabling them to swallow prey much larger than their heads with their highly mobile jaws.



Amazing how one word can throw out a whole meaning.
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Follow Up By: The Explorer - Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 23:29

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 23:29
Hi

Unfortunately still not true - many "legless lizards" dont have eyelids e.g. all pygopods.

Not sure where you are cutting and pasting your information from but it is (at least partly) incorrect.

Cheers
Greg
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Follow Up By: get outmore - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 at 04:36

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 at 04:36
SDG your totally wrong as amny legless lizards dont have eylids and clean thier eyes with thier tongue
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Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 at 07:25

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 at 07:25
Greg
Can you imagine how terrifying it must be for the little critter to look back through the hand glass at your mug....lol

.
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Follow Up By: SDG - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 at 15:44

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 at 15:44
Looks like something I was always told is wrong. Oh well. Learn something new. ..

Wikipedia was my cut and paste source, but I often hold them with a grain of salt. Just another case of them not being totally currect.
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Follow Up By: The Explorer - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 at 17:12

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 at 17:12
Hello Doug

You dont know how close to the truth you are :)

Cheers
Greg
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

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Reply By: troopy al - Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 19:44

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 19:44
Be Afraid ! Very afraid !!!!
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Follow Up By: Member - Old Girl - Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 20:12

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 at 20:12
Mm
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