Arafura File Snake

“This snake reproduces every 8 to 10 years.”

The Arafura file snake is an aquatic snake that inhabits freshwater lakes and streams in Australia. This non-venomous snake is known for its unusual, coarse skin and its large size.

4 Fun Facts About the Arafura File Snake

• It gets its name from its coarse skin, which feels like a nail file.
• While it’s a water snake, it can move on land if it has to.
• It reproduces every 8 to 10 years.
• It eats only once a month.

Where to Find Arafura File Snakes

These snakes are native to Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. They prefer shallow water along the banks of streams or lagoons. They may also be found in saltwater bodies that feed the ocean. You are most likely to see them in lowland lakes, rivers, ponds, and wetlands. These are mostly in the Northern Territory, Queensland, and the western part of the country.

Evolution

As a member of the Acrochordus genus, Arafura file snakes are also related to little wart snakes which share its range and are also found in Cambodia, Myanmar, the Solomon Islands, and Sri Lanka. They are also related to the Javan file snake which is found in Southeast Asia.

In order to take a look at the history of these rather unique reptiles, we must go all the way back to the Cenomanian Age which occurred between 93.9 -100.5 million years ago (during the Late Cretaceous). The oldest snake fossils known to science date back to this period, with the earliest of them all, being about 94 million years old.

However, it would take roughly 50 million years before several modern snakes would emerge, i.e., during the Paleocene era (56 -66 million years ago).

Arafura File Snake Scientific name

Its scientific name is Acrochordus arafurae. The name comes from its loose, rough scales, which are very coarse. This coarse skin allows the file snake to hold onto its prey without slipping.

The name Arafura comes from this snake’s connection to the Arafura Sea, which is a sea that links the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. It is located between New Guinea and Australia and lies on top of the Arafura Shelf. The snake was originally spotted in two rivers that connect to the Arafura Sea.

It is also known as the elephant trunk snake or the wrinkle file snake.

Population and Conservation Status

The file snake is classed as “least concern” for conservation status by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is abundant in most of the countries where it lives, and it is not a species of special conservation concern.

Like all snakes, the Arafura file snake has suffered population losses because of habitat loss and other factors. In Australia, the introduction of the invasive cane toad has affected many native species, including snakes. Cane toads are very poisonous, and their toxin can kill many species that eat them. The Australian government has been working with wildlife organizations to combat the effects of these invasive pests. One program that has worked well has trained crocodiles and lizards to recognize and avoid the taste of cane toads.

How to Identify Arafura File Snake: Appearance and Description

The Arafura file snake can grow up to 5 feet long. Females are usually longer and heavier than males.

This snake has very distinctive skin. It has small, keeled scales, which stick up and give the scales a rough texture. The skin is also very loose and baggy. You can tell you have a file snake if it has eyes and nostrils on top of its head. This placement allows the snake to breathe above water while its body stays underwater.

It is normally light brown or gray with a distinctive black pattern. The pattern begins at the head and forms a series of crossed bands down the snake’s body. The belly is usually lighter in color.

Venom: How Dangerous Are They?

Arafura File Snakes are not venomous. They are freshwater snakes that are harmless to humans.

Behavior and Humans

Arafura file snakes spend most of their time in the water, but they will walk on land if they need to travel. When they do, despite their size, they are easy prey for predators because they’re slow on land.

These snakes are an important food source for many first peoples in Australia. They hunt for the snakes by pulling them out of the shallow water near riverbanks. Pregnant female snakes are especially prized,

Arafura file snakes are ovoviviparous, which means they develop eggs that hatch inside the female. After gestation, the female gives live birth to litters that can range from 10 to 27 baby snakes. Gestation takes about three months. They reproduce infrequently and may only do so every eight to 10 years, but most females reproduce every two to three years.

Friendly File Snake

The Arafura file snake is abundant in the waters of Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Its unusual scales and large size may make it look scary, but it is a docile, harmless snake.

Similar Animals

• Mole snake
• Sharp-tailed snake
• False cobra

1. Cool Companions, Available here: http://coolcompanions.com.au/blog/arafura-file-snake#:~:
2. Reptile Database, Available here: https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Acrochordus&species=arafurae
3. AquaticSnake, Available here: http://www.aquaticsnake.org/2016/03/arafura-file-snake-acrochordus-arafurae.html