Acrochordidae
Arafura File Snake
HarmlessAcrochordus arafurae
2 photographs of the Arafura File Snake. © Mark Clarke.
The Arafura File Snake (Acrochordus arafurae) is a non-venomous snake in the Acrochordidae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Family
- Acrochordidae
About the Arafura File Snake
Acrochordus arafurae, known by the common names Arafura file snake, elephant trunk snake, and wrinkle file snake, is an aquatic snake species found in northern Australia and New Guinea. No subspecies are currently recognized.
This snake was first described by Samuel Booker McDowell in 1979
Description
Adults grow to 8.25 ft (2.5 m) in length. They have very loose skin and are known to prey on large fish, such as eel-tailed catfish. Females are usually larger than males and they have been known to give birth to up to 17 young. The skin is used to make drums in New Guinea.
In Aboriginal language and culture
Arafura file snakes are often hunted by indigenous peoples of Northern Australia.
In the Kunwinjku language of West Arnhem Land, the snakes are known as kedjebe (or bekka in Eastern dialects), while in the Yolŋu language of East Arnhem Land they are called djaykuŋ, among other names.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Arafura File Snake
- Is the Arafura File Snake venomous?
- No. The Arafura File Snake (Acrochordus arafurae) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Arafura File Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Arafura File Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Arafura File Snake dangerous?
- The Arafura File Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Arafura File Snake live?
- The Arafura File Snake has verified records in 3 countries, including Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Acrochordidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Acrochordidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Acrochordus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Acrochordus arafurae
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.