Stunning scrub python hunting on my step last night [Australia FNQ]

[u/irregularia]

[u/irregularia]

Went out last night to look for snakes and didn’t have to look far… this gorgeous and fairly large scrub python was chilling on the step.

It seemed to be eyeing off the cat in his outdoor enclosure so we took kitteh inside and shared some space with this beauty.

After a while it decided to head down the stairs and we got to see how long it actually was… probably not quite 3 meters/10ft but not far off!

A beautiful visitor, hope it stayed safe out there.

Scrub python Simalia kinghorni, Far North Queensland, Australia !harmless

[u/SEB-PHYLOBOT → u/irregularia]

Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes Diadophis are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; severe envenomation can occur if some species are allowed to chew on a human for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes Thamnophis ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also considered harmless. Check out this book on the subject. Even large species like Reticulated Pythons Malayopython reticulatus rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans so are usually categorized as harmless.

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[u/whogivesashirtdotca → u/irregularia]

I love its derpy lil' face!

[u/RepresentativeAd406]

Holy crap thats an incredible snake. Nice find

[u/irregularia → u/RepresentativeAd406]

Yeah she’s beautiful alright. They’re such a slender build that I still always get surprised at how much snake is in there when they uncoil…

[u/KeithMyArthe]

That's a beauty.

I'll bet the cat was relieved that he left hungry.

[u/irregularia → u/KeithMyArthe]

Yeah it was a treat to see, I don’t get this particular species at the house often for some reason. Cat was oblivious 🤣

[u/TomHanksResurrected]

Oh wow, that’s such a gorgeous snake! So jealous of how much awesome wildlife you get to see out there.

[u/irregularia → u/TomHanksResurrected]

Cheers! Yeah it’s a pretty good spot for creatures, I actually moved here for the wildlife and it did not disappoint!

[u/AltruisticDelivery89]

The pattern is so beautiful

[u/irregularia → u/AltruisticDelivery89]

I thought so too. Sometime they get duller as they get larger but it was still really vibrant for its size.

[u/ALitreOhCola → u/irregularia]

Was just thinking it looks like my stimsons python used to during a shed, milky and semi-opaque.

He didn't seem particularly concerned about you or anything else going on. Chance he was shedding?

[u/whogivesashirtdotca → u/AltruisticDelivery89]

I love those snakes that look like they've been crocheted.

[u/lucyunicornx]

What a stunning snake . Thanks for sharing. It made me smile

[u/irregularia → u/lucyunicornx]

Aw thank you. I feel lucky to have such gorgeous creatures around and it’s nice to know other people appreciate them too.

[u/lucyunicornx → u/irregularia]

I can understand you feel lucky! Do you also see a lot of birds like the kookaburra? What about 🦘

Edit: Just saw on your Instagram you saw a cassowary!

[u/irregularia → u/lucyunicornx]

Yeah we have pretty amazing bird life here because I’m kind of in the middle of rainforest, coastal and farmland so there’s a lot of different species. We do get kookaburras too :)

No kangaroos where I am but there are wallabies around in the broader area, and I’ve seen pademelons (like, a knee-high version of kangaroo?) at my place although not for a while.

[u/lucyunicornx → u/irregularia]

That sounds amazing 😍 And yay for kookaburras. They are my favorite spices when it comes to 🐦

[u/irregularia → u/lucyunicornx]

Aw that’s so cool! They are very cool birds.

My fave is either the Bush-stone curlew, or the spangled drongo (I can never choose).

Are you in Australia or overseas?

[u/lucyunicornx → u/irregularia]

Overseas! 😇 Europe. Ohh I like the bush stone curlew too. Another favorite is rainbow lorikeet. You should post bird pics on the Australian birda sub someday😄

[u/irregularia → u/lucyunicornx]

Yeah I think about it sometimes but my photography is not that great and birders are usually really good 🤣 BtW have e you seen the board game Wingspan? It’s pretty cool if you’re into birds!

[u/lucyunicornx → u/irregularia]

Good point 😁 I live in a country with only 2 species of snakes so I am thankful reddit snake sub.

I know about it but I have not played it😇

[u/irregularia → u/lucyunicornx]

Ah I feel your pain. I grew up in New Zealand with zero snakes! So two is better than that 😉

[u/tiny_smile_bot → u/irregularia]

:)

:)

[u/therealganjababe]

Gorgeous, never heard of them! Funny to see such a thin Python, and that's some nice length too.

[u/irregularia → u/therealganjababe]

Yeah, they’re quite different proportions hey. I always underestimate how big they’re going be when they’re curled up because their heads and coils are so delicate, but then they just keep coming!

[u/bonkersx4]

So chill 😎! Are they normally laid back around people? How amazing you got to see up close

[u/irregularia → u/bonkersx4]

Yeah in my experience they are mostly gentle giants. They have a rep for being psychos in captivity but the wild ones I’ve found have mostly been like this, even when I’ve had to pick them up and move them off the road they’re usually quite sweet.

[u/One_Swordfish1327]

Wow, what a magnificent creature! I'm glad it didn't eat kitty though.🙀

[u/irregularia → u/One_Swordfish1327]

Yeah they are pretty epic, I don’t see them often at the actual house so it was a treat.

And yes for sure. I mean I could have it all wrong maybe she was just innocently resting next to the cat house with no ulterior motives at all 😉

[u/One_Swordfish1327 → u/irregularia]

I wonder who would win - the snake or the cats?🙂

[u/irregularia → u/One_Swordfish1327]

At this size the snake without a doubt. When the snake is smaller, cats. Either way a bad outcome and the reason my cats are strictly indoors/catio!

[u/One_Swordfish1327 → u/irregularia]

I wouldn't like to test it! Glad everyone is safe!🙂

[u/Interanal_Exam]

Big snek

[u/theBacillus]

Of course it's Australia

[u/MouseEmotional813]

Lovely. I wish we had snakes like this in Victoria instead of all the venomous ones, yours much more relaxing to look at

[u/carrod65]

Lovely pattern on this fella', you have some mighty cool looking friends at your place 😁

[u/Lavaburstx]

One of the snakiest snakes I've ever seen