The juvenile Leptodeira ornate snake that was found at a Rangiora supermarket. Photo: SuppliedWorkers at a Rangiora supermarket have been given a fright after finding a snake in a box of bananas from Ecuador. Ministry of Primary Industries were notified about a dead snake at the New World store on May 10. An MPI snake specialist formally identified the 20.7cm reptile as a juvenile Leptodeira ornate, commonly known as an ornate cat-eyed snake, found in South America. A Leptodeira ornata is a mildly venomous rear-fanged snake that can inflict a painful bite if provoked, but it is not regarded as dangerous to humans.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 12, 2021 23:48 UTC