Eastern Small-eyed Snake
Cryptophis nigrescens
Eastern Small-eyed Snake
The Eastern Small-eyed Snake (Cryptophis nigrescens), can grow over a metre, but the average size is half that at 50cm.
The Small-eyed Snake is a very secretive nocturnal snake, and therefore unlikely to be encountered in the open during the day. When disturbed it may thrash about aggressively, but it is usually disinclined to bite. Toxicity of the venom varies by species but it contains a long-acting myotoxin that continues to attack muscle tissue (including heart muscle) for days after envenomation and can lead to death. A bite should always be treated as serious and medical attention sought as soon as possible.
