Identification help please :)

[Saz]

Can anyone help identify this poor guy?

 

[bigguy]

Where were pics taken Locality is one of the most important parts of an ID and no one ever puts it in.

 

[baker]

Mulga, Pseudechis australis
Cheers Cameron

 

[Saz]

Where were pics taken Locality is one of the most important parts of an ID and no one ever puts it in.

Toowoomba, QLD.

 

[bigguy]

Blue Belly Black. Very common at Toowoomba, specially on the road north of the city. Have seen many there early in the morning sunning on the roads

 

[baker]

With the location as bigguy says it is a blue belly/ spotted black snake. It is not far enough west for mulga's to occur.
Cheers Cameron

 

[andynic07]

Do you get many dark coloured mulga's [MENTION=28684]baker[/MENTION]? I have only seen limited locality mulga's and only in captivity but have not seen any as dark as that snake. I know the is has now been confirmed as not a mulga now but you did originally think it was a mulga.

 

[baker]

I have not seen any dark ones in the flesh but I have seen pictures of some quite dark ones. The Eyre peninsula mulga's are quite well known for being extremely dark individuals with some being close to black. Also on the Australian reptile database there is a couple of pictures of some darker than normal individuals.
Cheers Cameron.

 

[andynic07]

Thanks Cameron, do you know if there is a reason for the dark mulga's at Eyre Peninsula or is it purely just a locality thing?

 

[butters]

I've seen a number of dark ones around Mount Isa.

 

[baker]

I do not know for certain. What I would say is occurring that like many other Australian reptiles as they get further south the darker animals become more prevelant because they can thermo regulate better in the colder conditions than the lighter individuals.
Cheers Cameron

 

[andynic07]

I do not know for certain. What I would say is occurring that like many other Australian reptiles as they get further south the darker animals become more prevelant because they can thermo regulate better in the colder conditions than the lighter individuals.
Cheers Cameron

That makes sense , evolutionary like with diamonds.