Tropidechis carinatus
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
The rough-scaled snake (Tropidechis carinatus) is a highly venomous Australian elapid. The animal's name comes from its scales that are raised above the surrounding scales and have rough texture. The scales are known as "keels".
A 2016 genetic analysis showed that the closest relative of the rough-scaled snake is the tiger snake (Notechis spp.). The snake is brown to olive with narrow, irregular cross-bands or blotches of darker brown. The belly surfaces are greenish-grey or olive-cream, often with darker blotches. The mid-body scales have a raised keel or carinated appearance. The coloration and scale structure has led to some confusion with the non venomous keelback snake. It grows to around 70 cm in length.
The snake's habitat includes rainforests, moist open air forests and waterways. It is found from mid-eastern New South Wales to the tip of far-north Queensland. The snake is active both day and night. It can climb trees in pursuit of prey. The rough-scaled snake is highly venomous and will readily bite if attacked or handled.
The snake eats a variety of small vertebrates; frogs, lizards, small mammals, birds... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Rough-scaled Snake sighting in Springbrook National Park on a given day, based on 21 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 14th most-seen of the 27 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.
November
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Rough-scaled Snake in Springbrook National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and June–September, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Rough-scaled Snake sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Rough-scaled Snake sightings, Springbrook National Park ranks 2nd at about 20%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Lamington National Park (Australia, about 20%).
Same family: Elapidae
The closest relatives of the Rough-scaled Snake that you can see in Springbrook National Park (family Elapidae, Elapid Snakes) are Small-eyed Snake (about 30%), Red-bellied Black Snake (about 20%) and Dwarf Crowned Snake (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Rough-scaled Snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Springbrook National Park (21 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
