[Waterfall area, Royal National Park] What snake is it?

[PeterH]

Hi,
I'm not sure if that is right place for this question, if not please move it
Couple of weeks ago I went to a walk around Waterfall area in Royal National Park and met that guy - what snake is that?
Approx 60-80cm long, from back of it's head to 2/3 of length was orange/copper color, 1/3 was grey as well as the head.
Thanks!

[GPSGuided]

Brown snake? I'm amazed that you had the stay power to take those photos.

[puredingo]

I actually seen one of these not long ago also. Except mine was bigger (if I've got the scale right from the pic) and completely grey but same makings around the head. I would say yours is a juvenile and changing colour.

One of the snake experts will clear this soon hopefully.

[PeterH]

Brown snake? I'm amazed that you had the stay power to take those photos.

Brown snake - really? I spent about 10 mins looking at him and taking photos, all from around 2 meters or more... two of those shots are @140mm at crop sensor, other two @180mm.

[tom_brennan]

I've seen a very similar snake twice before:
Bowens Creek

and Popes Glen


I never followed up on it. If you don't get an answer in this forum (and possibly even if you do!), it's worth sending the pic to the Australian Museum (which I should probably do too!).

[Clusterpod]

Funnily enough, its not a snake at all, but a legless lizard!

Its a Common Scaly-foot, Pygopus lepidopodus

http://www.arod.com.au/arod/reptilia/Sq ... epidopodus

[tom_brennan]

Yes! I got the same response overnight from http://www.whatsnakeisthat.com.au/

No wonder I've never been able to work out what "snake" it was! I'd searched through photos of all local snakes without even getting close to a match, and now know why!

[perfectlydark]

I was going to say, definatly not a brown snake. Their colour is usually a lot duller

[GPSGuided]

Amazing!