Australia's largest snake, it can grow up to 8.5 meters (28ft), though it is relatively thin for its size. It poses no threat to humans and eats rats, bandikoots, bats, possums and birds - which it detects using heat sensitive organs along its jaw as well as smell. It is a constrictor, squuezing its prey to prevent it breathing. It gets its name from the irredescence on its scales.
