What is this snake

[McSporans]

This was photographed yesterday on North Turramurra Golf Course in northern Sydney (near to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park). It was sitting out in the middle of the 17th fairway. Appologies for the bad picture but this is as good as I could get with my phone after almost walking into it. It raised up its head and about a quarter of its body and was standing still like a stick. It had yellowy orange colouring ariound the head. It didn't look lik a tree snake as the head ran straight into the body (like on a Black Snake) whereas from the pictures i have seen a treesnake has a more pronounced python shaped head.

Any ideas?

 

[Tassie97]

that is a common tree snake Dendrelaphis punctulata (green tree snake) its a colubrid and is non venomous

 

[McSporans]

Thanks, that's reassuring since I almost stepped on it. Thinking back now the way it froze it was probably trying to resemble a tree branch.

 

[Tassie97]

the classic defence posture for these fellas is the "puffing up" of the neck area
here is a vid that will show you about them [video=youtube;-hLd--bLle0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hLd--bLle0&feature=plcp&context=C301f600UDOEgsToPDskIft a2cielNs0BJyyirTgeF[/video]

 

[killimike]

It actually looks like quite a nice one, from the tiny pic.

 

[moosenoose]

Beautifully banded that's for sure.

 

[McSporans]

i attached the file so it should open larger. it had to be close to 2metres long.

 

[killimike]

i attached the file so it should open larger. it had to be close to 2metres long.

It does, yep.

Hopefully you see it again! And pls remind ppl on the course not to shovel (or golf club) it, just in case they do get funny ideas