Rainbow Serpent

The Rainbow Serpent or Rainbow Snake is a common deity, often a creator god, in the mythology and a common motif in the art of Aboriginal Australia. It is named for the obvious identification between the shape of a rainbow and the shape of a snake. Some scholars that the link between snake and rainbow suggests the cycle of the seasons and the importance of water in human life. When the rainbow is seen in the sky, it is said to be the Rainbow Serpent moving from one waterhole to another, and the divine concept explained why some waterholes never dried up when drought struck. There are innumerable names and stories associated with the serpent, all of which communicate the significance and power of this being within Aboriginal traditions. It is viewed as a giver of life, through its association with water, but can be a destructive force if angry. The rainbow serpent is one of the most common and well known aboriginal stories, very important to their society. The Rainbow Serpent is one of the oldest continuing religious beliefs in the world and continues to be a cultural influence today.

Farancia erytrogramma

Farancia erytrogramma (also known as the rainbow snake, and less commonly, the eel moccasin) is a large, nonvenomous, highly aquatic, colubrid snake endemic to coastal plains of the southeastern United States.

Etymology

The specific name, erytrogramma, is derived from the Greek words ερυθρóς (erythros), meaning "red," and γράμμα (gramma), meaning "line."

Common names

Other common names for F. erytrogramma include horn snake, mud snake, red-lined snake, red-lined horned snake, red-sided snake, sand hog, sand snake, and striped wampum.

Description

Rainbow snakes have smooth, glossy bluish-black back scales, with three red stripes. They have short tails, with a spiny tip which they sometimes use as a probe. Adults may show yellow coloration along the sides and on the head.

They usually grow to a total length (including tail) of 36-48 inches (91-122 cm), although some specimens have been recorded up to 66 inches (168 cm) in total length. Females are larger than males.

Behavior