What kind of black snake is it?

By Snake Identifier Team · 25 September 2026

A black snake is not automatically a red-bellied black snake. Several Australian snakes can appear dark or almost black. A visible red flank may be useful, but the absence of visible red in a photograph does not settle the identification. Location and the rest of the visible body still matter.

Red-bellied black snake resting on leaf litter at Brisbane Forest Park — Red-bellied black snake: the lower flanks may show red when the angle allows it. Photo: The original uploader was Figaro at English Wikipedia. / source / Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP.

Red-bellied black: look at what the photo actually shows

The Australian Museum describes a glossy black upper surface and red lower sides, with variation in the belly colour. This is an eastern Australian species. Do not assume a dark snake elsewhere is a red-bellied black simply because its photograph resembles a familiar example.

A top-down view may leave the lower sides hidden. Record “red not visible” rather than “no red”. Never move the snake, lift it or try to expose its belly for a better view.

A tiger snake may have no obvious stripes

The name can mislead: tiger snakes are not always banded. The museum’s tiger snake account describes entirely unbanded individuals, including black ones. Its range includes southeastern and southwestern Australia. A plain dark body is not enough to exclude it.

Tiger snake showing banded body and broad head on grass — Tiger snake. The familiar banded appearance is only part of this species’ variation. Photo: Max Tibby / source / CC0. Resized and converted to WebP.

Even “brown” snakes can be dark

The Queensland regional guide records eastern browns ranging from light tan to almost black. A colour-based search can therefore leave a serious gap if it excludes every snake with “brown” in its name.

Eastern brown snake on a rocky bank at Black Mountain, Canberra — Eastern brown snake: use the species account’s variation notes, not just the colour in one image. Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark / source / CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP.

Other comparisons depend on where you are

The eastern small-eyed snake and blue-bellied black snake are also relevant comparisons in parts of eastern Australia. The regional guide describes the small-eyed snake as glossy black with pink below, while the blue-bellied black snake account shows how variable another black-snake species can be. This is a shortlist of possibilities, not a complete national key.

For a useful follow-up, retain the original image and the nearest town or suburb. If the image lacks detail, leave the identification open. Leave the snake alone while you compare records or ask for identification help.

Compare your sighting’s location and markings with possible matches in the snake identifier.

Sources checked 25 September 2026: Australian Museum: Red-bellied Black Snake; Australian Museum: Tiger Snake; Queensland Government: snakes of south-east Queensland; Australian Museum: Blue-bellied Black Snake; Queensland Government: snake questions.