Hoplocephalus stephensii
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%
Stephens's banded snake (Hoplocephalus stephensii) is a species of highly venomous tree snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Gerard Krefft described Hoplocephalus stephensii as a species new to science in 1869. The specific name stephensii, is in honour of Australian academic William John Stephens.
H. stephensii grows up to 1 meter (39 inches) in total length (including tail), with some specimens having been recorded as having a total length upwards of 120 cm (47 in). The Stephens' banded snake is the largest species within the genus Hoplocephalus, weighing up to 250 g (8.8 oz) as an adult. On average, females of this species are larger than males. This slight sexual dimorphism is an adaptation that likely improves the reproductive capabilities of females.
The anterior scalation of Stephens's banded snake consists of 21 rows of midbody dorsal scales, and 220 to 250 ventral scales. Posteriorly, its singular subcaudal scales can range between 50 and 70 scales from the anal plate to the tip of the tail. This species has a singular (undivided) anal plate that covers its cloacal opening. The ventral scales of the genus Hoplocephalus... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Stephen's Banded Snake sighting in Springbrook National Park on a given day, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 27th most-seen of the 27 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April–May and September–December
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Stephen's Banded Snake in Springbrook National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January–March and June–August, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Stephen's Banded Snake sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Stephen's Banded Snake sightings, Springbrook National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Lamington National Park (Australia, about 10%).
Same family: Elapidae
The closest relatives of the Stephen's Banded 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 Stephen's Banded Snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Springbrook National Park (20 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.
