This tiny, beautiful snake was lying outside the hospital ambulance bay two nights ago. Desert Banded snakes usually burrow just under sandy surfaces, hence most sightings are at night. In the dark, against her gold body, her black stripes were a vivid red and black. On the top of her head was a lacy black pattern. She looked dangerous, despite her size. I emailed her image to a snake information site to identify her species. "Simoselaps Bertholdi", I was told. Mildly venomous, she kills and eats skinks, legless lizards and geckos. Her venom neurotoxins are not known. Diminutive, this little snake never grows much more than 20 centimetres in length and looks not unlike a wild, tropical worm. Recent hot, spring weather and hail storms probably disturbed her. First recorded in the 1800's, one hot January, she is often referred to as "Jan's Banded snake". This snake is sometimes killed when mistaken for a baby Tiger snake by the misinformed. Basically, the experts advise: leave her alone…she is very reluctant to bite and isn't thought to be of any danger. She is, despite the local presence of much larger and deadlier Dughites, Death Adders and Black tiger snakes...kind of cool.
