Cryptophis nigrescens

Eastern Small-eyed Snake at Moruya, NSW

Cryptophis nigrescens at Moruya, NSW - 26 Apr 2019
Cryptophis nigrescens at Moruya, NSW - 26 Apr 2019
Cryptophis nigrescens at Moruya, NSW - 26 Apr 2019
Cryptophis nigrescens at Moruya, NSW - 26 Apr 2019
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Identification history

Cryptophis nigrescens 26 Apr 2019 PatrickCampbell
Unidentified 25 Apr 2019 LisaH

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User's notes

I'm assuming two baby red-belly black, newly dead (run over, I think).

4 comments

   26 Apr 2019
Looks more like Cryptophis nigrescens to me, although it's hard to be sure based solely on these photos of ant-covered specimens. Did you happen to take any shots of the underside or close-ups of the head? Please add them if you did.
LisaH wrote:
   26 Apr 2019
Thank you. I've turned over the one remaining snake. Does this help? Looks like the head is lost.
   26 Apr 2019
Yes, that definitely helps. Thanks Lisa. I'm sure it's a Small-eyed Snake after seeing the additional photo of the belly. A key difference between these two similar looking species is the belly of the Red-bellied Black Snake is strikingly barred with regular black bands, as there is a black posterior edge to each belly scale. The Small-eyed Snake doesn't have these distinct black ventral bands.
LisaH wrote:
   26 Apr 2019
Fantastic - thank you! I'm learning so much by submitting to the Nature Map. I appreciate your time.

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