Couple Discover Rare Red-Eyed Snake Lurking Nearby During Lunch

A couple on Australia's Sunshine Coast have been given an unusual warning after finding a rare, brightly colored snake in their gutter on Sunday morning.

"We were having lunch on the deck with some friends [when] my husband, who's 6 feet 4, got up to go inside," Sunshine Coast resident Pip told Newsweek. "Due to his height advantage he spotted [the snake] in the gutter and jumped back exclaiming to everyone to get away from the downpipe.

"I knew it was something unusual/scary as he's a country lad so not much fazes him!"

The snake was a pale apricot-pink color with red eyes and looked nothing like the other snakes that were usually found in the area.

The Sunshine Coast, in Southeast Queensland, is home to some of the deadliest snakes in the world. Therefore, the couple quickly shared a photo of the strangely colored animal to the Facebook group Snake Identification Australia to find out whether they should be concerned.

"Almost immediately I got a DM asking if someone could come and remove it 'for free,'" Pip, who did not wish to give her surname, said. "At the same time comments were already stacking up so I had a read and realized it wasn't an Eastern Brown or anything deadly and was happy for it to stay."

As the comments piled in, it soon became clear that this was no ordinary snake.

"If anyone DM's you about this snake offering to come out and remove it for you please do not give them your exact location or allow them to come out and move it," Facebook group expert Jason Archer commented. "It appears to be an albino Brown tree snake and we would hate to see this snake poached from the wild and put in to captivity."

Mathew Hampton, another group expert, added: "There are unfortunately unscrupulous people who would want to collect it due to the rarity of the find, instead of letting nature be nature."

Brown tree snakes are fairly common along the Sunshine Coast. They are a slender species which usually display brown scales with a yellow or red tinge. They can be found in forested and urban areas across northern, eastern and southern Australia and are mostly active at night.

This particular individual, however, was different to the rest of its species, thanks to a rare genetic mutation. This mutation prevents the animal from producing melanin, the biological pigment found in skin, scales, eyes and hair. Without this pigmentation, blood vessels can often be visible showing through the skin and scales, resulting in a pink or red tinge in certain areas, particularly in the eyes.

The condition, known as albinism, is particularly rare in the wild, as it can make individuals more vulnerable to predation. For example, a bright white snake is much easier to spot than a dark brown and black camouflaged one. Low levels of melanin can also cause eye problems, reducing the creature's ability to hunt.

While the species does not normally harm humans, they are mildly venomous and have been known to cause respiratory problems and diminished sensory perception, particularly in younger patients. Even so, this particular snake did not pose any threat to the couple.

"It literally did not move the whole time after we noticed it," Pip said. "I got a bit closer to take the second lot of pics and it was very still. Its tongue came out a few times.. that's literally it [...] I've always been a bit scared of snakes to be honest but I would never wish any harm... he was minding his own business."

By 10 p.m. that same day, the snake had disappeared. "I felt relieved that he's safe! Back to hiding out," Pip said. "It's amazing it was such a rare find. Still can't believe it!"

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