This snake with its shiny black skin Figure 1. Red-bellied Black Snake © I. McCann DSE 2008 Our Wildlife Fact Sheet Red-bellied Black Snake and red underside is quite a Diet sensation! This species preys on frogs, rats, mice, lizards, birds, fish, eels and sometimes other snakes. They have a good swimming ability so can also feed on many aquatic Scientific name species. Pseudechis porphyriacus Habitat Did you know? The Red-bellied Black Snake likes to reside near water The Red-bellied Black Snake can sometimes give birth bodies and can usually be found near river and creek to up to 40 live snakes at one time. banks, swamps and wet forests. This species is not aggressive and will usually retreat Snakes must regulate their body temperature externally before attacking, although when it is threatened it will by sunning themselves or retreating to cool, shaded raise its body from the ground flatten its neck, hiss and areas. You can sometimes see them basking on a rock perform a series of strikes. or underneath timber, rocks and abandoned burrows. There have been no recorded human deaths as a result During the winter months snakes will hibernate. of a Red-bellied Black Snake bite to date in Australia. Red-bellied Black Snakes enjoy feasting on frogs and the cane toad has been a problem for this species with its toxic venom destroying the snake. This snake is sometimes known to eat other snakes, including its own kind! Description The Red-bellied Black Snake can grow up to 2.5 m however adults usually average around 1.5 m. The name of this snake comes from its bright shiny black with the underside consisting of creamy pink to a rich red. The snout is brown. Distribution The Red-bellied Black Snake can be found all along the This snake is in the elapid family meaning it is east coast of Australia, and northern parts of Victoria. venomous and like all venomous snakes it is front fanged.
Our Wildlife Fact Sheet Red-bellied Black Snake This snake with its shiny black skin and red underside is quite a sensation! Scientific name Pseudechis porphyriacus Did you know? The Red-bellied Black Snake can sometimes give birth to up to 40 live snakes at one time. This species is not aggressive and will usually retreat before attacking, although when it is threatened it will raise its body from the ground flatten its neck, hiss and perform a series of strikes. There have been no recorded human deaths as a result of a Red-bellied Black Snake bite to date in Australia. Red-bellied Black Snakes enjoy feasting on frogs and the cane toad has been a problem for this species with its toxic venom destroying the snake. This snake is sometimes known to eat other snakes, including its own kind! Description The Red-bellied Black Snake can grow up to 2.5 m however adults usually average around 1.5 m. The name of this snake comes from its bright shiny black with the underside consisting of creamy pink to a rich red. The snout is brown. This snake is in the elapid family meaning it is venomous and like all venomous snakes it is front fanged. Figure 1. Red-bellied Black Snake © I. McCann DSE 2008 Diet This species preys on frogs, rats, mice, lizards, birds, fish, eels and sometimes other snakes. They have a good swimming ability so can also feed on many aquatic species. Habitat The Red-bellied Black Snake likes to reside near water bodies and can usually be found near river and creek banks, swamps and wet forests. Snakes must regulate their body temperature externally by sunning themselves or retreating to cool, shaded areas. You can sometimes see them basking on a rock or underneath timber, rocks and abandoned burrows. During the winter months snakes will hibernate. Distribution The Red-bellied Black Snake can be found all along the east coast of Australia, and northern parts of Victoria.
Red-bellied-Black-Snake.docx