Shovel Snouts are secretive snakes which are mostly encountered during rainy season when they emerge to forage. Shovel Snouts feed exclusively feed on reptile eggs. The egg is swallowed whole and a blade-like modification on the rear maxillary tooth is used to slice open the egg. The content is swallowed first followed by the collapsed shell.

Colours can vary but they can be easily identified by their short cylindrical bodies and pointed snouts which may resemble a shovel.

They rarely exceed 40 cm in length.

When threatened these snakes will coil and uncoil vigorously and in some cases omit foul swelling odour to deter a predator.

Non-venomous.