Snake skin
I found this cast skin from an Eastern Brown Snake last week. It was lying in the grass in the old riverside graveyard in Queanbeyan.
I have never found a complete skin before and it was quite long with a sizeable girth. Snakes need to cast their skin to grow.
Laid out, it measured 135 cm tip to tail.
Although, the neck was concertinaed, so the actual length was probably more like 140 cm.
The best feature of the skin was the preserved detail. The scale pattern on the back, belly, head and lips were complete. The pattern of the scales is unique to each species and the pattern on the head and lips can help identify them if ever in doubt of whether they are venomous or not. Handy when in close, very close, proximity. Best of all were the spectacles, the scales or brilles, that cover the eyes were still in situ, if a little popped open. Two transparent semi-spheres turned inside out.
I wonder how long that snake is now.
