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Definition of arafura file snake
arafura file snake
Plural:Arafura file snakes
arafura file snake Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Australian A large, non-venomous, strictly aquatic snake (Acrochordus arafurae) native to northern Australia and New Guinea, characterized by its loose, baggy skin and rough, file-like scales used to grip slippery fish.
Example
"Indigenous Australians of Arnhem Land traditionally hunt the Arafura file snake in shallow billabongs by feeling for them in the mud."
Word Origin & Etymology
Named after the Arafura Sea, which borders its native habitat in northern Australia and New Guinea, combined with 'file snake' in reference to its distinctive rough, granular scales.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Arafura file snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/arafura file snake