Red-bellied Black Snake
Pseudechis porphyriacus

Length:

to 2m

Identification:

back shiny, immaculate black; tip of snout brownish; belly scales cream, with dark posterior edge; red on lower flanks.

Scale Counts:

midbody scale rows 17; ventrals 170-215; anal paired; subcaudals single at front, remainder divided 40-65.

Habitat:

usually well watered areas like river and creek banks, swamps; rainforests and wet eucalypt forests, heaths.

Distribution:

Big Tableland to Mt Elliot (notheastern Qld), Proserpine and Eungella (mideastern Qld) Gladstone (southeastern Qld) through NSW and VIC to southeastern SA.

Status:

Common

Habits:

active by day.

Breeding:

live-bearer (5-18); average snout-vent length of new borns 22cm.

Main Prey:

fish, frogs, Cane Toads (with fatal consequences), reptiles (including snakes) and small mammals.

Venom:

strongly haemotoxic; cytotoxic.

Notes:

potentially dangerous; seek urgent medical attention for all suspected bites.

Similar Species:

Small-eyed snake (Cryptophis nigrescens), which is smaller and has different scalation, a small flat head with tiny eyes and slim build. C. nigrescens has a coral pink or cream belly, sometimes blotched, and lacks red on lower flanks.