One of the region’s smallest snakes, they prefer wetter environments and can tolerate more cold than other snakes. They eat mainly skinks and occasionally frogs. While venomous, they’re not considered dangerous, mainly because their fangs are small and set well back in their mouths.

They can forage in winter on fine days since their small size allows them to heat up quickly. They produce 3 to 10 live young, 8 to 11cm long in late summer. Cats and kookaburras are threats. Drysdalia was named after the famous Australian artist, Russell Drysdale.

Size: Up to 40cm

Illustration: Mark Trinham