Leslie Massey
Australia is known for its dangerous snakes, with the Eastern Brown Snake responsible for the most snakebite deaths and found all over the mainland. Other venomous snakes in Australia include the Western Brown Snake, the Inland Taipan, the Coastal Taipan, the Mulga Snake, the Common Death Adder, and the Red-Bellied Black Snake. These snakes are found in a variety of habitats across the country, from the coastal regions of Queensland and New South Wales to the arid inland areas of Eastern central Australia. Some snakes favour dry habitats, while others are found in suburban areas, bushland, and woodlands.
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What You'll Learn
- Eastern Brown Snakes are found in the eastern half of Australia
- Western Brown Snakes are found along the south-eastern coast of Australia
- Tiger Snakes are found throughout southern Australia
- Inland Taipans are found in Queensland and South Australia
- Coastal Taipans are found along the east coast of Australia
Eastern Brown Snakes are found in the eastern half of Australia
Eastern Brown Snakes are venomous and highly aggressive, known for their speed, agility, and potent venom. They are responsible for more snake bites and deaths in Australia than any other species. Their venom is ranked as the second most toxic of any land snake in the world, and they can deliver a large amount in a single bite. They are often found near houses and farms, as their main prey is the house mouse.
The species is native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea, and it is not considered endangered. It is quite common throughout its range, but it faces threats from habitat loss, road mortality, and persecution by humans who fear their venomous bite. Eastern Brown Snakes are slender and can grow to lengths of up to 6.5 feet (2 meters). Their coloration ranges from pale brown to black, with yellowish or cream-colored undersides that may have orange or grey speckles.
Eastern Brown Snakes are solitary and generally active during the day, especially in the cooler hours of the morning and late afternoon. They are highly territorial and will defend their home range aggressively if they feel threatened. They are known for their defensive behavior, including raising their bodies into an 'S' shape before striking. While they typically avoid humans, they will bite if provoked or cornered.
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Western Brown Snakes are found along the south-eastern coast of Australia
Australia is home to a wide variety of venomous snakes, from the highly venomous inland taipan to the less venomous red-bellied black snake. One of the most dangerous groups of snakes in Australia is the brown snakes, which includes the eastern brown snake and the western brown snake.
Western Brown Snakes, also known as Pseudonaja mengdeni, are found along the south-eastern coast of Australia, from New South Wales and Victoria to Tasmania and the far corner of South Australia. They favour dry habitats and are commonly found in grasslands, shrublands, savannah, woodlands, and dry sclerophyll forests. Western Brown Snakes are highly adaptable and can also be found in pastoral areas, eucalypt forests, and woodlands. They are known to take shelter under any available ground cover, natural or man-made, such as fallen timber, rock slabs, or even corrugated iron sheeting.
Western Brown Snakes are primarily terrestrial, but they have been known to climb, with some individuals spotted in the branches of trees. They are fast-moving, nervous, and highly dangerous, delivering three times the amount of venom as their eastern cousins. Their bites are usually painless and difficult to see due to the small fang marks, but they can cause severe coagulopathy (a blood clotting disorder) and sometimes kidney damage.
Western Brown Snakes are diurnal hunters, but during periods of hot weather, they may forage late in the evening or at night. They have keen eyesight and are quickly alerted to any movement that could signal a potential meal. When they strike, they hang onto their prey and often use constriction to secure it until their venom takes effect.
In the south of their range, Western Brown Snakes begin their courtship and mating in spring, which may extend into summer. In central and northern Australia, the breeding season is less restricted and may take place whenever conditions are suitable.
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Tiger Snakes are found throughout southern Australia
Tiger Snakes are a protected species in most Australian states. They are responsible for the second-highest number of bites in Australia, as they inhabit highly populated areas along the east coast, including some metropolitan areas of Melbourne. They are attracted to farms and outer suburban houses, where they hunt mice nocturnally and can be accidentally trodden on by unsuspecting victims. Their bites are fatal if untreated, causing pain in the feet and neck, tingling, numbness, and sweating, followed by breathing difficulties and paralysis. The venom also damages the blood and muscles, leading to renal failure.
The subspecies Notechis ater ater, found away from mainland Australia, is typically uniformly black. The subspecies Notechis ater niger, or Peninsular Tiger Snake, is found on the lower Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas, as well as offshore islands of South Australia. The Chappell Island Tiger Snake (Notechis ater serventyi) is found on the Furneaux Group of islands in the Bass Strait. The Western Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus occidentalis) is found in the southwest corner of Western Australia. The Eastern Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus scutatus) is found in southeastern mainland Australia.
The total length of a Tiger Snake is typically about 1.2 metres, although they can grow up to 2 metres. They are usually striped, with prominent yellow and black cross-bands, although this patterning can vary. Some individuals are entirely patternless, ranging in colour from yellowish-brown to black. The Peninsula Tiger Snake has a blunt head distinct from its robust body, averaging 1.1 metres in length. Roxby Island specimens are smaller, averaging 0.86 metres. On Kangaroo Island, specimens are highly variable in colour, often exhibiting banding and uniform brown colours.
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Inland Taipans are found in Queensland and South Australia
The Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is a species of highly venomous snake native to semi-arid regions of central-east Australia, specifically the far west and southwest of Queensland, extending through the far west of New South Wales into the northeast corner of South Australia. This distribution includes the drainage systems of the Cooper and Diamantina Rivers, as well as the Bulloo, Paroo, Warrego, and lower Darling. The species is also known as the Western Taipan, Small-scaled Snake, or Fierce Snake.
Inland Taipans inhabit remote, semi-arid regions, seeking shelter in abandoned animal burrows, deep fissures in cracked ground, rock crevices, and sinkholes to escape the extreme heat of their open, sparsely populated habitat. They are characteristically reclusive, shy, and placid, with a strong preference for avoiding human contact. As a result, encounters with Inland Taipans are extremely rare, and they are considered less dangerous than their cousin, the Coastal Taipan, despite possessing the most toxic venom of any land snake in the world.
The Inland Taipan's favoured prey is the Long-haired Rat (Rattus villosissimus), which it corners in its burrow or deep cracks in the soil before delivering several quick bites without releasing its grip. The species is also known to feed on other small mammals. The snake's venom is a potent cocktail of enzymes and agents that paralyse nerve endings, destroy muscle tissue, and cause severe bleeding. Despite its extreme toxicity, there have been no recorded fatalities from Inland Taipan bites, and all known bite victims have survived with the application of first aid and hospital treatment.
In Queensland, the conservation status of the Inland Taipan has improved from "rare" before 2010 to "least concern" since December 2014. In South Australia, the species is listed as "least concern" in the Outback region. However, in New South Wales, the species is presumed extinct, as it has not been recorded in its habitat despite surveys conducted over appropriate time frames for its life cycle and type.
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Coastal Taipans are found along the east coast of Australia
Australia is home to a wide variety of venomous snakes, including the eastern brown snake, the western brown snake, the tiger snake, the inland taipan, and the coastal taipan. Coastal Taipans, in particular, are found along the east coast of Australia.
The Coastal Taipan, also known as the Eastern Taipan, is a highly venomous snake species native to Australia. It is considered one of the most venomous snakes in the world, with its venom rated as the third most toxic of all snake venoms. The only two snake venoms considered more toxic are those of the Inland Taipan and the Eastern Brown Snake, both of which are also native to Australia.
Coastal Taipans are found in the coastal regions of eastern Australia, ranging from northern New South Wales to Brisbane and northern Western Australia. They are particularly fond of sugarcane fields and other habitats along the east coast. This distribution overlaps with that of the Inland Taipan, which is found in remote, semi-arid regions in southwestern Queensland and northeastern South Australia, although sightings of this species have been rare.
The Coastal Taipan is an aggressive species known for its lightning-fast strikes. When surprised or cornered, it typically freezes before hurling its lightweight body forward to deliver multiple rapid bites. Its venom is extremely potent, and it also possesses the longest fangs of any Australian snake, measuring 13mm in length.
Despite their venomous nature, encounters with Coastal Taipans and other venomous snakes in Australia rarely result in fatalities. On average, Australia records fewer than five deaths per year from snake bites, with most occurring from Eastern Brown Snake bites rather than Coastal Taipan bites. This low fatality rate is partly due to the development of effective antivenoms, such as the Taipan antivenom introduced in 1955.
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Frequently asked questions
The Eastern Brown Snake is one of the most venomous snakes in Australia and is found in the eastern half of Australia. They live in open woodlands, rural areas, and suburban peripheries of larger towns and cities.
The Common Death Adder, Red-Bellied Black snake, Inland Taipan, and Small-eyed snake are some venomous snakes found in Queensland, Australia.
The Coastal Taipan, Common Death Adder, Red-Bellied Black snake, Tiger snake, and Inland Taipan are some venomous snakes found in New South Wales, Australia.
