Large thick body, variable-patterning with two major forms, eastern form mottled dark grey with darker head, northern and western forms light grey with dark back broken by light grey scales, both forms with olive-brown head. Genetic studies indicate that eastern, western and northern animals may represent different species. Venomous though non-aggressive, however it is curious, often approaching and twining itself around divers.

• Max Size: 200 cm
• Sea Temperature Range: 21.5-31.4°C
• Depth: 0-68m

• IUCN Threat Status: Least Concern
• Occurrence: Frequent (14% of sites)
  Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
• Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)
  Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.