SUMMARY
VENOM: None
PREVALENCE: Common
ACTIVE PERIOD: Fossorial
KEY ID FEATURES: Dark brown bodies with short tails, strong bodies, and flat wide heads, iridescent shine on the body
BEHAVIOR: Completely fossorial only coming out during heaviy rain or when moving across locations not suitable for burrowing
SIZE: Medium - ~1m
QUICK ASSESSMENT 0-10
GALLERY
IMPORTANT: Many snakes have significant variance in coloration and pattern even within the same species. There can also be extreme differences in appearance from juveniles to adults so it is important to never assume you have properly identified a snake.
DESCRIPTION
The Sunbeam Snake is a cryptic species and is encountered less than would be expected despite being widespread and quite common. It spends almost all of its time under ground or in leaf litter. They have cylindrical bodies with no distinct necks. Tails are short and stout. The head is flat but wide with strong jaws. The ventrals are pure white, with subcauduals showing coloration similar to the body. Scales have a strong iridescent shine running the length of the body which is especially dazzling in strong sun light.
BEHAVIOR
Sunbeam snakes are constrictors with powerful bodies and strong jaws. They share many traits of ground pythons from other localities and use construction to subdue their prey which is various and consists of other snakes, small mammals, amphibians and possibly worms and insects. As a largely fossorial species they spend most of their time under cover of objects, leaf litter or buried in soft soil. assumed to be actiuve mostly just after dar and just before sun rise.
HABITAT
Found in a wide range of habitats including sometimes areas abutting developed areas, but generally perfer more heavily vegitated locations.
MISTAKEN IDENTITY
NO SNAKE SHOULD EVER BE HANDLED BY ANYONE BUT EXPERTS: A very unique species by appearance, sunbeam snakes are not easily confused with other species.