Red-bellied Black Snake
Pseudechis porphyriacus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Elapidae, Subfamily: Elapinae, Genus: Pseudechis, Species: P. porphyriacus
Southeastern Australia, spanning from southeastern Queensland through eastern New South Wales to Victoria, with a disjunct population in the Mount Lofty Ranges of South Australia.
Look up Red-bellied Black Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Venomous (Proteroglyphous - fixed front fangs)
Danger Level
High Risk - Potentially deadly but generally less dangerous than other major Australian elapids; while no human fatalities have been recorded in recent decades, bites cause significant illness.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Elapidae, Subfamily: Elapinae, Genus: Pseudechis, Species: P. porphyriacus
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN). Local declines have occurred due to habitat loss and the ingestion of invasive, toxic Cane Toads (Rhinella marina).
Physical Description
Uniformly glossy black dorsal scales. The ventral scales are usually bright pink to red, which often spills onto the lower flanks. The head is slightly distinct from the neck with a rounded snout and dark eyes.
Size & Dimensions
Typically 1.25 to 1.5 meters in length, with a maximum recorded size of around 2.5 meters. The specimen in the image appears to be a healthy adult.
Habitat
Primarily found near water sources such as swamps, lagoons, streams, and marshes. Also inhabits woodlands, forests, and peri-urban gardens. Occurs from sea level to high alpine regions.
Behavior & Temperament
Diurnal and generally shy; it prefers to flee rather than fight. If cornered, it may flatten its neck into a horizontal 'hood' and hiss loudly, but it rarely strikes unless severely provoked.
Diet & Feeding
Generalist predator focusing on frogs, but also consumes reptiles (including other snakes), small mammals, and fish. It is an active forager that can search both on land and underwater.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young encapsulated in membranes). Litter size ranges from 5 to 18 young, typically born in late summer.
Venom Profile
Complex mixture containing myotoxins, coagulants, and mild neurotoxins. It also exhibits hemolytic and cytotoxic properties.
Look-alikes
Small-eyed Snake (Cryptophis nigrescens) which has a flatter head and lacks the red flank coloring; Copperheads (Austrelaps spp.) which have different facial markings and scale counts.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN). Local declines have occurred due to habitat loss and the ingestion of invasive, toxic Cane Toads (Rhinella marina).
Cultural Significance
One of Australia's most iconic and well-known snakes; plays a vital role in ecosystem balance by controlling frog and rodent populations.
Notable Features
Unusual among many elapids for its preference for semi-aquatic habitats and its ability to remain submerged for extended periods while foraging or hiding.