Tiger Snake
Notechis scutatus

Length:

to 1.5m

Identification:

back olive, green - brown, usually with numerous `ragged' crossbands.

Scale Counts:

midbody scale rows 17-19 (rarely 15); ventrals 140-190; anal single; subcaudals single 35-65.

Habitat:

maily moist areas; rainforests, heaths, open forests and river floodplains.

Distribution:

southeastern Qld through eastern and southern NSW and most of Vic (except extreme west), and southeastern SA. In Qld, islolated populations only - Carnarvon Ranges, Maryborough, Cooloola, Caloundra-Beerwah, Bunya Mountains, Border and Main Ranges and North Stradbroke Is (Qld Museum specimen, 1912).

Status:

patchy, common in places.

Habits:

active by day, nocturnal in warm weather.

Breeding:

live bearer (14-37); average snout-vent length of new-born young 19cm.

Main Prey:

mainly frogs; also reptiles, birds and mammals.

Venom:

strongly neurotoxic and haemotoxic.

Notes:

potentially dangerous; apply first aid and seek urgent medical attention for all suspected bites; responsible for many human deaths.

Similar Species:

Rough-scaled Snake (Tropidechis carinatus), which is slimmer and has different scale arragement (keeled verses smooth body scales) and counts.