ROUGH-SCALED SNAKE

141                  ROUGH-SCALED SNAKE                   Tropidechis carinatus    

AUSTRALIAN SNAKES                     32

Also known as Clarence River Snake.  Found on coast and ranges of eastern Australia from Barrington Tops in the south to s-e Queensland; an apparently isolated population in wet tropics rainforest between Townsville and Cooktown, ne Queensland. Shy, but aggressive when aroused; Dangerous. Normally nocturnal, but sometimes baskes or forages in the day. Feeds on wide variety of small vertebrates, but primarily on frogs and mammals. Live bearing, 5-8 young.