Snakes of Australia: Regional and Species Overview

Australia is home to a staggering array of snake species, with over 200 species found across the country.

The eastern brown snake is one of the most venomous snakes in the world, found in the eastern and central regions of Australia.

The coastal regions of Australia are home to the coastal taipan, a highly venomous snake that's responsible for most snakebite-related deaths in the country.

With such a vast array of species, it's no wonder that Australia is a snake enthusiast's paradise.

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Australia's venomous snakes are a topic of interest, but it's essential to note that not all venomous snakes are dangerous to humans. In fact, there are about 2500 snake species worldwide, and in Australia, only a small fraction of them are venomous.

On average, you're unlikely to see snakes in Australia, even in the Outback, as they're generally not active in cold temperatures. Snakes need the sun or warm air to regulate their body temperature, so they often bask in the sun.

There are, however, some species that are more venomous than others. Here's a list of some of the most venomous snakes in Australia, ranked by their venom toxicity:

Keep in mind that while these snakes are considered venomous, not all of them are deadly to humans. It's always best to exercise caution and respect their space.

The most dangerous venomous snakes in Australia are a topic of great interest, but it's essential to understand that their danger level is not just determined by the toxicity of their venom. The Queensland Museum developed a system to measure five different factors for each species: the toxicity of their venom, the quantity of venom ejected, the length of the snake's fangs, the temperament of the snake, and the number of people bitten.

To give you a better idea of the "dangerousness" of our venomous snakes, they assigned a number from 1 to 5 for each factor and tallied them for an overall figure. The higher the number, the more dangerous the species.

Here's a breakdown of the top 5 most dangerous venomous snakes in Australia, according to the Queensland Museum's rating system:

These snakes are considered among the most venomous in Australia, but it's essential to remember that the danger level is also influenced by the likelihood of humans encountering them, as many snakes are secretive and rarely seen.

The Inland Taipan takes the top spot as the most venomous snake, with a venom toxicity of 50.0 milligrams.

This is a staggering amount, and it's worth noting that the measurement is based on the amount required to kill 50% of test animals, usually mice.

The Eastern Brown Snake comes in second, with a venom toxicity of 12.5 milligrams.

The Coastal Taipan is a close third, with a venom toxicity of 7.8 milligrams.

Here's a list of the top 5 most venomous snakes, ranked by their venom toxicity:

The lower the milligram measurement, the more potent the venom.

The Cobra Toxicity Scale is a measure used to compare the toxicity of different snake venoms. It's based on the LD50, which is the dose required to kill 50% of test animals.

The Indian Cobra is assigned a value of one, and other snakes are compared to it. This means that Eastern Brown Snakes have a relative toxicity of 12.5, making them 12.5 times more toxic than the Indian Cobra.

Humans are not all the same when it comes to venom sensitivity. We're individually sensitive to medicines, chemicals, and environmental toxins, just like we are to venoms.

For another approach, see: Javan Spitting Cobra

Australia is home to a diverse range of snakes, and their distribution varies greatly depending on the region. If you're planning a trip to Australia, it's essential to know which snakes to expect in different areas.

In Eastern Australia, you'll find a mix of venomous and non-venomous snakes, including the Eastern Brown Snake, Western Brown Snake, and Tiger Snake. These snakes are commonly found in the region, so it's crucial to exercise caution when exploring the outdoors.

The ACT Snake Removals service provides a helpful resource for residents and visitors alike, safely capturing and relocating venomous snakes to more suitable habitats. Their licensed and insured staff are available to assist with snake removals in the Canberra area and surrounding regions.

Here's a breakdown of some of the snakes you might encounter in different regions of Australia:

By understanding the types of snakes found in different regions, you can take necessary precautions to stay safe during your Australian adventure.

In Eastern Australia, you'll find a diverse range of snakes, but one species stands out for its potent venom and aggressive behavior: the Eastern Brown Snake.

The Eastern Brown Snake is found throughout the eastern half of mainland Australia, and its venom is ranked as the second most toxic of any land snake in the world.

This snake is known for its fast-moving and aggressive behavior, and it's responsible for more deaths in Australia than any other group of snakes.

It's found in populated areas, particularly on farms in rural areas with mice, where it thrives.

If disturbed, the Eastern Brown Snake raises its body off the ground, winding into an 'S' shape, mouth gaping open and ready to strike.

Its venom causes progressive paralysis and stops the blood from clotting, which may take many doses of antivenom to reverse.

In fact, the Eastern Brown Snake packs the second most powerful venom in the world, with a ridiculously toxic bite that can cause headaches within 15 minutes and possible cerebral hemorrhage or heart attack in an hour.

Here are some key facts about the Eastern Brown Snake:

The Eastern Brown Snake is quite slender for its length, and it's not considered an especially aggressive species.

Central Australia is home to a diverse range of snakes, including the Desert Death Adder, Pilbara Death Adder, and Yellow-faced Whipsnake. These snakes can be found in the region's arid and semi-arid landscapes.

The Mulga Snake is another venomous snake found in Central Australia, and it's known to be an opportunistic hunter feeding on other snakes, rodents, and ground nesting birds. It's also a ground hunter, but can climb trees when necessary.

The Western Brown Snake / Gwardar is a common sight in Central Australia, and it's an extremely wide-ranging snake that can be found in almost every habitat except the wettest areas. It's also known to be fast-moving and nervous in temperament.

Here's a list of some of the snakes you might encounter in Central Australia:

It's worth noting that the Western Brown Snake / Gwardar is an opportunistic hunter, feeding on other snakes, rodents, ground nesting birds, and lizards, and its venom can be fatal to humans if not treated immediately.

Some snakes, like the Eastern Brown Snake, are found in specific regions of Australia. This snake is known to inhabit eastern Australia, including the ACT and bordering NSW region.

The Western Brown Snake, on the other hand, is found in central western Australia, specifically north of Shark Bay to Broome, and east to the Northern Territory.

Here are some specific species of snakes found in different regions of Australia:

These snakes can be venomous, so if you're concerned about a snake in your area, it's best to contact a professional snake catcher like ACT Snake Removals.

The inland taipan is a reclusive and rare snake, hiding out in its remote, rocky habitat in the Australian Outback. It's considered one of the most venomous snakes in the world.

This snake's potent venom is its most notable feature, capable of killing an adult human within 45 minutes. It's considered the most potent of any land snake in the world.

The inland taipan uses its venom to finish off prey quickly, injecting more than 40,000 times the amount needed to kill a 200g rat. It's a stealthy hunter, preferring to ambush its prey in the burrows of long-haired rats.

Only a handful of people have been bitten by this species, and all of them were snake handlers who survived with first aid and hospitalization. This is likely due to the snake's remote habitat and shy nature.

The inland taipan is a shy snake that shelters in cracks and holes, but if it feels provoked, it will strike after raising its forebody to give a warning. It's a relatively docile snake, but its venom is not to be underestimated.

The snake's venom is more than twice as deadly to mammals as the next contender, a sea snake, and six times as powerful as the Eastern brown snake. Its venom affects the nervous system and the blood, causing nausea, convulsions, internal bleeding, and destruction of muscles and kidneys.

Despite its deadly reputation, the inland taipan is not commonly encountered by humans, due to its remote habitat in the arid areas of inland Eastern central Australia.

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The Mulga snake, also known as the King Brown snake, is a massive and venomous snake found in Australia. It's the heaviest venomous snake in the country and has the largest-recorded venom output of any snake in the world, delivering a whopping 150mg in one bite.

Its temperament varies depending on the locality, with southern Mulgas being shy and quiet, while northern specimens are more agitated if disturbed. They're known to throw their heads from side to side and hiss loudly when threatened.

Mulgas are notorious for their savage bites, which can be fatal if left untreated. They have a highly toxic venom that destroys blood cells and affects the muscles and nerves. In fact, the venom is so potent that it's best countered with black snake antivenom.

If you're in an area where Mulgas are common, it's essential to be aware of their presence and take necessary precautions. Keep in mind that Mulgas can be found in various habitats, including dry arid areas and fields, and are primarily active during the afternoon and evening.

Here are some key facts about the Mulga snake:

The Lowland Copperhead is a moderate-sized elapid with typical lengths of 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters). Its coloration is highly variable, ranging from a reddish rust to tan, near black, or even yellow.

This snake is not closely related to the North American copperhead, despite sharing a similar name. It prefers wetter habitats in the extreme south eastern areas of Australia and nearby southern islands.

The Lowland Copperhead is a daytime hunter that feeds on snakes, frogs, and lizards, often hunting along the edges of waterways. It also takes small rodents when available.

It's worth noting that this snake is not aggressive and will generally engage in prolonged warning behavior, including mock strikes, hissing, neck flattening, or thrashing, if disturbed. If you are bitten, it does have a powerful neurotoxic venom that can be successfully treated with tiger snake antivenin.

The Lowland Copperhead gives live birth to relatively small numbers (less than a dozen) as often as annually.

The Red-bellied Black Snake is a moderately-sized snake, typically about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length, with rare instances exceeding 8 feet (2.4 meters), and can weigh more than 22 pounds (9.9 kilograms).

They are commonly encountered by people, even in urban settings, and are the primary source of snakebites among dogs in Australia.

Red-bellied Black Snakes live along the Eastern coast of Australia and prefer wet, marshy areas or ponds as they prey primarily on frogs, fish, other snakes, and sometimes small rodents.

They produce live births, typically less than 30 at a time.

The shiny black snake will attempt to avoid confrontation and generally only attacks when seriously provoked.

Although cohabitating with the cane toad, they have become slightly tolerant of the amphibian's secretions and tend to avoid it as prey.

Despite this adaptation, their numbers are in decline due to habitat fragmentation and predation from feral cats which are resistant to its venom.

Red-bellied Black Snakes are not particularly aggressive and will escape from humans if possible, but when threatened will flatten their bodies and hiss loudly.

Their venom causes blood-clotting disorder and muscle and nerve damage, enough to knock you off your feet, but rarely deadly.

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The Eastern brown snake is a slender snake that grows up to 7.5 feet long, with its favorite prey being the introduced house mouse.

It's found throughout the eastern half of mainland Australia, and its venom is ranked as the second most toxic of any land snake in the world.

This snake is known for its bad temper, and if disturbed, it raises its body off the ground, winding into an 'S' shape, mouth gaping open and ready to strike.

Its venom causes progressive paralysis and stops the blood from clotting, which may take many doses of antivenom to reverse.

Victims may collapse within a few minutes, and the snake tends to live in suburbs and farmlands where its favorite prey is common.

The Eastern brown snake is quite fast-moving and aggressive, and its venom packs the second most powerful venom in the world based on median lethal dose (LD50) values.

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It's little consolation that this rodent-hunting snake has the smallest fangs and lowest volume venom of the snakes in this list.

Most adults are in the 6-feet range, with some reaching 7.5 feet or longer, and its range doesn't bring it into heavy contact with the cane toad, making its population relatively stable.

By far the most common cause of snake bite deaths in Australia, the Eastern brown snake tends to favor warmer, drier areas.

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The Western brown snake (Pseudonaja mengdeni) is a highly venomous snake found in Western and Central Australia. It's a long and thin snake, typically growing up to 5 feet in length, but can reach lengths of up to 7 feet.

This snake is extremely fast and active during the day, but will hunt into the night in warmer temperatures. It's an opportunistic hunter, feeding on other snakes, rodents, ground nesting birds, and lizards.

The Western brown snake has a wide and varied range, found in almost every habitat in Western and Central Australia except the wettest areas. It overlaps range with the Eastern brown snake, which can lead to misidentification.

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If you encounter a Western brown snake, it's essential to be cautious, as it will attack humans if provoked. However, it prefers to avoid contact and will run for cover if disturbed.

The venom of the Western brown snake is not as potent as the Eastern brown snake's, but it typically produces three times the dose of its still toxic venom. This can make bites from the Western brown snake just as deadly as those from its Eastern cousin.

Here's a quick rundown of some key facts about the Western brown snake:

Australia is home to 66 recognized species of venomous snakes, a staggering number that's sure to make you more aware of your surroundings.

These snakes can be found on the continent, and it's worth noting that some of them are incredibly toxic, with Australia ranking high in the list of countries with the most venomous snakes.

The coastal taipan is the second longest venomous snake in Australia, a fact that's sure to make you think twice about venturing into the wild.

Venomous snake bites are rare, but it's essential to know what to do if you're bitten. Get a good description of the snake, but don't attempt to collect it – it's not needed and can put you at risk.

The good news is that deaths from venomous snake bites are exceedingly rare, thanks to effective antivenins and prompt treatment.

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