Originally discovered in Naracoorte Caves National Park in Australia, the Warnaby Snake was the first extinct snake to be found in Australia. Its name is taken from the local Australian Aboriginal legend of a snake in the Age of Dreams. The snake, called the rainbow snake, is generally credited with creating Australia's main sight.

Other species of the Serpentidae family are about Disappeared from elsewhere 55 million years ago, but continued to survive and evolve in Australia. The last surviving giant snake family of Warnaby snakes did not disappear until 50,000 years ago. Warnaby snakes lived during the Pleistocene Ice Age, living in sunny spots by pools. They will ambush kangaroos, wallabies and other prey that come to drink.