Leslie Massey
The Eastern brown snake, also known as the common brown snake, is a species of venomous snake native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. It is considered the second-most venomous terrestrial snake in the world and is responsible for more deaths from snakebites in Australia than any other species. The Eastern brown snake is found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, pastures, woodlands, and rural areas, but avoids dense forests. It is particularly prevalent in eastern Australia, from northern Queensland to South Australia, with isolated populations in the Northern Territory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Species | Pseudonaja textilis |
| Common Name | Common brown snake |
| Range | Eastern and central Australia, Southern and Eastern New Guinea |
| Habitat | Grassland, eucalypt forests, farmland, outskirts of urban areas |
| Length | 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) to 2.4 metres (7.8 ft) |
| Colour | Pale brown to reddish or black |
| Behaviour | Defensive, fast-moving, venomous |
| Diet | Frogs, birds, mammals, reptiles |
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What You'll Learn
- The Eastern brown snake is found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory
- They are also found in Papua New Guinea and New Guinea
- The species is native to eastern and central Australia
- They are found in a variety of habitats, including grassland, woodland, farmland and semi-urban areas
- They are not found in Tasmania or dense forests
The Eastern brown snake is found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory
The Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) is a species of highly venomous snake native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. It is often referred to as the common brown snake and is considered the world's second-most venomous land snake. It is of slender build and can grow to 2 metres (7 feet) in length. Its colour ranges from pale brown to black, with a pale cream-yellow underside often marked with orange or grey splotches.
Eastern brown snakes are found in a variety of habitats across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. They are absent from alpine regions and dense forests but are commonly found in open landscapes such as woodlands, grasslands, scrublands, and savannahs. They are particularly abundant in rural and agricultural areas, as well as on the outskirts of urban centres, where they prey on rodents.
In Queensland, Eastern brown snakes are distributed throughout the state except for the western parts. They are commonly found in the greater Brisbane area, including suburban backyards and even the city centre. They are also present in the southeast of the state, between Ipswich and Beenleigh, and in the far north, in places like Malanda.
In New South Wales, the species is encountered most frequently in spring, followed by autumn and summer/winter. They are known to inhabit central southern regions of the state, as well as the coastal areas. Eastern brown snakes are the second-most commonly reported species responsible for envenoming dogs in this state.
Eastern brown snakes are also found in Victoria and South Australia, with populations extending to the Yorke Peninsula. They occupy a range of habitats, including dry sclerophyll forests, coastal heaths, and inland grasslands.
Disjunct populations of Eastern brown snakes occur in the Northern Territory, specifically on the Barkly Tableland and the MacDonnell Ranges.
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They are also found in Papua New Guinea and New Guinea
The eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis), often referred to as the common brown snake, is a species of venomous snake native to Australia and southern New Guinea. The New Guinean populations of the eastern brown snake were once thought to have been introduced by human activity. However, genetic evidence suggests that the species reached southern and eastern New Guinea from northern Queensland and Arnhem Land during the Pleistocene.
New Guinea is the world's second-largest island, located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The island is separated from Australia by the Torres Strait, a 150-kilometre wide stretch of water. The western half of New Guinea, known as Western New Guinea, forms part of Indonesia and comprises six provinces: Papua, Central Papua, Highland Papua, South Papua, West Papua, and Southwest Papua. The eastern half of the island is the major land mass of the nation of Papua New Guinea, officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea is a country in Oceania, comprising the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and offshore islands in Melanesia, a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia. The country has a land border with Indonesia to the west and neighbours Australia to the south and the Solomon Islands to the east. Its capital, Port Moresby, is located on its southern coast. Papua New Guinea has a diverse landscape, ranging from low-lying plains in the south to the New Guinea Highlands, a spine of mountains stretching over 1,600 kilometres across the island, with many mountains over 4,000 metres high.
Papua New Guinea has a rich history and culture, with evidence of human settlement dating back over 40,000 years. The country is home to a vast array of languages, with 840 known languages, making it the most linguistically diverse country in the world. It is also one of the most rural countries, with a large proportion of the population living in customary communities. Papua New Guinea has been an observer state in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 1976 and is a full member of various international organisations, including the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.
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The species is native to eastern and central Australia
The eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) is native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. It is a species of highly venomous snake in the Elapidae family. The adult eastern brown snake has a slender build and can grow up to 2 metres (7 feet) in length, with males growing larger than females. The colour of its surface ranges from pale brown to black, while its underside is pale cream-yellow, often with orange or grey splotches. The eastern brown snake is found in a variety of habitats, including grassland, woodland, and eucalypt forests, but it tends to avoid dense forests. They are particularly prevalent in open grasslands, pastures, and semi-urban environments, and are often found in farmland and on the outskirts of urban areas, where their main prey, the house mouse, is abundant.
Eastern brown snakes are active during the day and are very fast-moving, with Australian naturalist David Fleay reporting that they could outpace a person running at full speed. They are known to be aggressive and will rear up and adopt an S-shape strike posture when provoked, delivering an envenomed bite. The venom of the eastern brown snake is highly toxic and contains presynaptic neurotoxins, procoagulants, cardiotoxins, and nephrotoxins. Successful envenomation can result in progressive paralysis and uncontrollable bleeding, and it has been known to cause more deaths from snakebites than any other species in Australia.
Eastern brown snakes are found along the east coast of Australia, from far north Queensland to the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. They are also present in isolated populations in the central and western Northern Territory, as well as in southern and eastern New Guinea. In Queensland, they are distributed throughout all but the western parts of the state and are particularly common in the Brisbane area, although they are rarely seen in settled areas. They are known to share shelter sites during the winter, but it is unclear if this is a result of mutual attraction or simply a coincidence of independent shelter-seeking behaviour.
The eastern brown snake is considered the second-most venomous terrestrial snake in the world, behind only the inland taipan of central east Australia. While snake bite fatalities in Australia are rare, the eastern brown snake is responsible for more deaths from snakebites than any other species. It is important to seek medical attention immediately if you suspect you have been bitten by an eastern brown snake, as the initial bite is generally painless and often difficult to detect.
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They are found in a variety of habitats, including grassland, woodland, farmland and semi-urban areas
The Eastern brown snake is found in a variety of habitats across the eastern half of Australia, except Tasmania. It is also found in Papua New Guinea and some parts of New Guinea. In Australia, it is commonly found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.
The Eastern brown snake is a highly adaptable species and can be found in a range of habitats, including grassland, woodland, farmland, and semi-urban areas. They are often found in open landscapes such as grasslands, pastures, and savannah woodlands. They are also prevalent in rural areas that have been modified for agricultural purposes and on the outskirts of urban areas, as these places are populated by their main prey, the house mouse.
Eastern brown snakes are absent from dense forests, rainforest, and alpine regions. Instead, they prefer open habitats and are often found in dry sclerophyll forests (eucalypt forests), heaths of coastal ranges, scrublands, and arid scrublands. They can also be found in watercourses and swampy areas that experience seasonal flooding.
In addition to their preference for open spaces, Eastern brown snakes are known to seek shelter in hollow logs, rock crevices, unused animal burrows, and even man-made structures. They are agile and fast-moving, hunting by day and returning to their burrows at night. During the winter, they may remain in their burrows for up to four and a half months.
The Western brown snake, found in the northern and western parts of Australia, also inhabits a range of habitats. These include arid and semi-arid regions, savannas, grasslands, and shrubs. They share similar behaviours to their Eastern cousins, seeking shelter in timber, rocks, and man-made structures when needed.
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They are not found in Tasmania or dense forests
The eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) is a species native to eastern and central Australia. It is considered the second-most venomous terrestrial snake in the world and is responsible for more deaths from snakebites in Australia than any other species. Eastern brown snakes are very fast-moving and can outpace a person running at full speed. They are commonly found in farmland and on the outskirts of urban areas, as these places are populated by their main prey, the house mouse.
Eastern brown snakes are widespread throughout eastern Australia, from northern Queensland to South Australia, with isolated populations occurring in the Northern Territory. They are found along the east coast of Australia, from Malanda in Far North Queensland, along the coasts and inland ranges of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and to the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.
Despite their presence in various habitats across Australia, there are notable exceptions to their distribution. Eastern brown snakes are not found in Tasmania, an island state located south of the Australian mainland. Tasmania's geographic isolation and unique ecological characteristics may contribute to its absence from the snake's range.
Additionally, eastern brown snakes are typically not found in dense forests. Their preference for open areas, such as farmland and urban outskirts, is likely due to the abundance of their preferred prey, house mice, in these habitats. Dense forests may not provide the same level of prey availability, and the snakes' hunting strategies may be less effective in heavily forested areas.
The absence of eastern brown snakes from Tasmania and dense forest habitats is an important aspect of their ecology and distribution. It is worth noting that while they may not be commonly found in these specific environments, there could still be occasional sightings or isolated populations in unique circumstances. However, for the most part, Tasmania and dense forests remain free from the presence of these venomous snakes.
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Frequently asked questions
Brown snakes, specifically Eastern Brown Snakes, are found throughout the eastern half of Australia, except Tasmania. They are native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. They are found in a variety of habitats, including grassland, eucalypt forests, farmland, and the outskirts of urban areas.
The colour of brown snakes can vary from pale brown to reddish or almost black. They have small fangs (around 3mm) and their average venom yield is around 4mg, although the record is 67mg. They are fast-moving and can grow up to 2.4 meters in length.
The Eastern Brown Snake is considered the second-most venomous terrestrial snake in the world and is responsible for more deaths from snakebites in Australia than any other species. However, snake bite fatalities in Australia are rare, and you are more likely to be killed by a honeybee.
