SPECIES: Hemiaspis damelii — Grey Snake
CLASSIFICATION: Endangered
Elusive and understated, the Grey Snake is a master of disguise. A pale ghost of the inland waterways that vanish in the dry. Often mistaken for a common brown snake, this secretive reptile spends much of its life hidden beneath logs or within deep soil cracks, emerging to hunt frogs after summer rain. Its stealthy habits and patchy range mean it’s rarely seen.
Now listed as Endangered, the Grey Snake depends on healthy floodplain wetlands and grasslands – habitats increasingly lost to clearing, grazing, and drainage. Protecting these ephemeral wetlands and understanding the snake’s quiet role in inland ecosystems are key to ensuring this shy hunter continues to glide unseen through the heart of Australia’s dry country.
Photo: Queensland Fauna Consultancy