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 →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.
Diet & Feeding
Generalist predator feeding on a variety of vertebrates, including rodents (especially the introduced house mouse), birds, frogs, and other reptiles. It uses 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.
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 display.