Muller's Crowned Snake
Cacophis mulleri
A small nocturnal elapid found in eastern Australia, recognizable by a pale crown-like marking on its head.
- Adult length
- 25-40 cm (10-16 in)
- Range
- Eastern Australia
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Overview
Muller's Crowned Snake is a small, secretive elapid native to eastern Australia, named for the crown-shaped pale marking on the back of its head. It is part of a group of small crowned snakes found across Australia's east coast.
It is typically encountered under logs, rocks, and leaf litter, preferring moist forested habitats.
How to identify it
- Small, slender body, generally grayish to reddish-brown
- Distinct pale, crown-shaped marking on the head/nape
- Smooth scales
- Small eyes with round pupils
- Head slightly distinct from neck
- Crown marking distinguishes it from similar small nocturnal elapids
Habitat & range
Found in moist eucalypt forest, rainforest margins, and woodland along eastern Australia. Shelters under logs, rocks, and leaf litter, favoring humid microhabitats.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Nocturnal, emerging to forage for small skinks and frogs. Oviparous, laying small clutches of eggs in moist, sheltered sites.
Frequently asked questions
What gives Muller's Crowned Snake its name?
A pale, crown-shaped marking on the back of its head.
What does it eat?
It feeds mainly on small skinks and frogs.
Where does it live?
In moist forested habitats along eastern Australia.
Muller's Crowned Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Muller's Crowned Snake.
