Animal Facts:
The northern brown snake, also known as gwardar, is one of the western brown snakes living on the Australian continent and shouldn’t be mistaken with the nonvenomous North American brown snake because the Australian species is one of the most venomous reptiles in the world. Even juveniles can give deadly bites.
The northern brown snake’s fangs, which are folded back into the roof of their mouth when not in use, are quite short, however, and so it prefers to take cover rather than facing any natural predators, which include the king brown snake and birds of prey. But when it doesn’t have the option to retreat, it will rear up into an S-stance and show off its fangs. If provoked, it will then strike fast and turn around to escape.
The northern brown snake’s prey consists of small mammals, amphibians, birds and eggs as well as reptiles, including other snakes.
To find prey, the snake relies on its smell, sight and on the vibrations it senses.
In order to smell, it flicks out its tongue to taste particles in the air, which are then processed by the ‘Jacobson organ’ in the roof of its mouth. A snake’s tongue is forked, and the two tips ‘taste’ different amounts of chemicals, allowing it to tell which direction a smell is coming from. It also picks up vibrations with the bones in its jaw, enabling the snake to detect sound waves despite not having external ears.
On top of that, snakes can see infrared light as well as the heat signature emitted by other creatures.
To protect their eyes, instead of eyelids, they have a single transparent scale called a brille.
When the northern brown snake is hunting, they strike quickly, biting the prey with their fangs and injecting deadly venom. Then they secure the animal until the venom takes effect.
Since snakes cannot chew, they eat their prey whole. To this end, they hunt mostly smaller animals, but they can eat prey three times their size.
Contrary to popular myth, snakes cannot dislocate their yaws. But since their upper and lower jaws are not attached by bone but by stretchy ligaments, they can open their mouths wider than their own bodies.
Digesting their prey can take up to a few days, depending on its size, after which they need to hunt again. The only things that the snake’s digestive system cannot dissolve are hairs, feathers and claws, which are regurgitated. Snakes also regurgitate their food if they are threatened shortly after a meal, so they can escape more quickly.
Since snakes never stop growing – even though their rate of growth slows as they get older – and their skin doesn’t grow with them, they need to periodically exchange it for a new one, which is called moulting. Another benefit of getting rid of their old skin is getting rid of all the parasites, such as mites and ticks.
Before moulting, a snake stops eating and moves to a safe and preferably dark place to hide. Yet another obvious indication that his process is about to start is that the old skin becomes dull and the snake’s eyes look cloudy. When moulting, the inner surface of the old skin liquefies, which causes it to separate from the new skin beneath it. This process is uncomfortable, and during it, the snake will feel itchy and tender. When their old eye caps separate, this also reduces the snake’s ability to see, which makes it more vulnerable.
The moulting period usually takes a few days, after which the eyes clear and the snake crawls out of its old skin.
A lesser-known fact is that, as well as their skin, snakes have another feature that needs to be replaced pretty often: their fangs. When the snake breaks off one, it grows another fang to replace it.
When the northern brown snake is not hiding during the moulting phase, it needs – like any cold-blooded animal – the warmth of the sun to regulate its body temperature. This is why they are often seen lying on stones, as these absorb the sun’s heat.
Therefore, the northern brown snakes are usually diurnal hunters, too. The exception is during very hot days when they’ll hunt at dusk or dawn or even during the night.
The northern brown snakes are able to climb trees but prefer to spend most of their lives on the ground.
They are typically uniformly brown, as their name suggests, but they can be patterned with flecks or bands or display several other colours. It has also been observed that they change colour, both depending on where they live and on the season. For example, they are most often darker during the winter months, to help them absorb more heat, and a lighter brown in the hotter months, to reduce the risk of overheating.
Some spiritual meanings:
The northern brown snake is venomous. When it attacks, it’s fast and accurate.
Do you tend to strike out at people when you feel cornered?
Or do you feel attacked by others? Do you need healthier boundaries?
Also, are there any toxic situations or people in your life that you need to heal or cut out?
As the snake continuously tastes the air with its tongue, smell is an important factor for you.
Do things smell right in your environment?
You might have a talent for clairsalience. Or try out aromatherapy.
The snake has an unblinking stare since it has no eyelids. Its gaze seems intense.
Are you perhaps too intense? Do you need to relax more?
As a snake person, you might be good at holding people’s attention and have a natural confidence that others find attractive.
You might also find it easy to do shamanic journeys for which you go into a trance-like state.
Snakes can stretch their jaws far apart.
Having a snake as your spirit animal means that you can easily digest any knowledge you take in.
Snakes moult regularly because their skin does not grow with them.
This is a symbol of rebirth, transformation and life changes.
Are you allowing yourself to grow and transform?
You might also be in a transition phase right now.
Are you putting off making the changes you need to make?
Or are you forcing change too quickly?
Along with moulting, the snake gets rid of parasites.
This is a sign of great healing abilities.
Are you in need of healing?
Or can you provide healing to others?
Take a look at the different types and choose the one you are most drawn to.
Before moulting, a snake’s eyes cloud over, but afterwards they clear and the snake sees the world anew.
Can you see all that you need to see?
Or Is something creeping up on you unnoticed?
Try to understand others by seeing things from their perspective. You have the power to shift your awareness.
Slithering over the ground, the snake always stays connected to Mother Earth.
Do you feel that you are grounded enough in your life?
You can feel more secure by using grounding techniques regularly.
When you have a snake as your spirit animal, your kundalini energy might be awakening right now.
Support this process instead of resisting it.
It might also be useful to retreat for some time to focus on taking care of yourself.
If you want to read up on more spirit animals or want to learn more about spiritual topics in general, pick up a copy of my book “Willow and Strix – A spiritual journey” ©, available as a paperback or ebook (free for kindle unlimited users) US – UK – DE and in other countries
A. Wakan's Spirit Animals 