Eastern Brown Snake
Pseudonaja textilis • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Elapidae, Subfamily: Hydrophiinae, Genus: Pseudonaja, Species: P. textilis
Widespread throughout eastern Australia, from northern Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria into South Australia; also found in isolated populations in central Australia and parts of southern New Guinea.
Look up Eastern Brown Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Dangerously venomous; proteroglyphous fang type (fixed front fangs).
Danger Level
Extremely Dangerous; this species is responsible for the majority of snakebite fatalities in Australia due to its proximity to human habitation and high venom toxicity.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Elapidae, Subfamily: Hydrophiinae, Genus: Pseudonaja, Species: P. textilis
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN); it is a common species that has benefited significantly from land clearing and the introduction of mice.
Physical Description
Slender build with a small head barely distinct from the neck. Coloration varies from pale brown to almost black, sometimes with a coppery hue. Juveniles often exhibit dark bands or a dark nape. Eyes are large with round pupils and a prominent orange-brown iris.
Size & Dimensions
Typical adult length is 1.2 to 1.8 meters, with large specimens reaching 2.4 meters. The specimen in the image appears to be a large adult, approximately 1.5 meters long.
Habitat
Highly adaptable, found in a diverse range of habitats including sclerophyll forests, coastal ranges, savannas, grasslands, and agricultural land. It thrives in disturbed habitats and urban fringes, preferring open areas with access to cover.
Behavior & Temperament
Diurnal and highly active. Known for being nervous and defensive; when threatened, it assumes a high 'S-shape' strike posture with its mouth open. It is very fast and will readily strike if it feels cornered or provoked.
Diet & Feeding
Generalist predator feeding on a variety of vertebrates, including rodents (especially the introduced house mouse), birds, frogs, and other reptiles. It utilizes both venom and constriction to subdue prey.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying). Females lay clutches of 10 to 40 eggs in late spring or early summer. Nesting often occurs in abandoned burrows or under logs.
Venom Profile
Potent cocktail including powerful presynaptic and postsynaptic neurotoxins, but primarily dominated by potent procoagulants which cause venom-induced consumptive coagulopathy (VICC).
Look-alikes
Often confused with other brown-colored snakes like the Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus), King Brown Snake (Pseudechis australis), or even non-venomous species like the Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus) from a distance.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN); it is a common species that has benefited significantly from land clearing and the introduction of mice.
Cultural Significance
A significant part of the Australian landscape and ecology; highly respected and feared. It plays a vital role in controlling rodent populations in agricultural areas.
Notable Features
Distinguished by its extreme speed and the characteristic upright defensive display. It possesses the second most toxic venom of any land snake in the world based on LD50 values in mice.