An Aussie snake catcher has issued a lethal warning to not be deceived by the color of a snake after choosing up a startling blue reptile within the outback.
Mathew Hampton has been a snake catcher for greater than 20 years, however instructed Yahoo News Australia it was the primary time he noticed a strap-snouted brown snake of this shade.
In a photograph taken within the Strzelecki Desert, within the Far North Region of South Australia final yr, the astonishing snake might be seen curled up within the sand.
“While the strap-snouted brown snake is extremely variable in colour — and I’ve probably caught well over a dozen different colour forms — they’re normally a dull brown creamy colour,” mentioned Hampton, whose job it was to relocate any snakes discovered to be in hurt’s approach on a development web site for a pipeline.
“That steely blue colour is the only one I’ve seen like that, so it just goes to show they can be quite variable, albeit rare, and that nature throws up some oddities sometimes.
Which is how unsuspecting people can make mistakes.
“When you pick up your field guide, often it’ll just say that the strap-snouted brown snake could be brown, light brown, dark brown or jet black,” Hampton, who runs the social media account Snake Identification Australia, defined.
“It’s quite vague. But that’s where this photo is proof in itself why colour isn’t isn’t a reliable means of identification.”
Because the strap-snouted brown snake is in reality extraordinarily harmful.
“They’re highly venomous,” Hampton mentioned, “and without treatment after copping a severe bite, it could end deadly within a couple of hours.
“But as long as you apply the correct snake bite first aid and get treatment as soon as possible, you’ve got some pretty good chances.”
He added that’s why it’s necessary to go away issues to the professionals, and never attempt to catch or kill the snake.
“Really, nobody should be touching snakes except for the experts,” Hampton mentioned. “Just play it safe and just give the snake a wide berth because you never know.”
Fortunately, the place the place the startling blue snake was discovered doesn’t get a lot footfall.
“That area of the Strzelecki Desert doesn’t have many people, it’s just really remote work crews,” the snake catcher defined.
‘Never would have guessed’
Taking to Facebook and Instagram to share his discover, Mathew mentioned it was one of the crucial “unique” catches of his profession and that he would have “probably seen well in excess of a hundred” strap-snouted brown snakes.
“How incredible and beautifully coloured,” one person wrote on Facebook. “What a beauty!” mentioned one other. “I am VERY in awe of him and his cool coat,” another person commented.
While others had been shocked on the identification. “I’d never have guessed this would be any kind of brown snake,” one person mentioned, marvelling on the reptile’s “spectacular colour”.
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