Elapidae
Lowlands Copperhead
Austrelaps superbus
A variable venomous copperhead of lowland south-eastern Australia.
Dangerously venomous
Identification and appearance
A variable southern copperhead that may look black, grey, brown or reddish-brown, often paling or reddening along the flanks. Weak pale bars on the lips are described in the species account.
Typical length
The Australian Museum reports a maximum total length of 145 cm; this is not a typical adult size range.
Body build
robust
Key identification features
- Variable black, grey, brown or reddish-brown colour
- Weak pale lip bars are reported
- Lowland grassland, heathland and woodland near water
Where it is found
Lowland Victoria, Tasmania and far south-eastern South Australia; New South Wales populations are assigned to Austrelaps ramsayi in current taxonomic references.
Habitat
Lowlands Copperheads inhabit grassland, heathland, woodland and open scrub, often near marshes, lagoons, swamps, lakes, creeks and rivers. They also use disturbed agricultural areas, sheltering under logs, rocks, dense vegetation and disused burrows.
Activity
Usually most active during the day.
Diet
Frogs, reptiles and occasionally mammals.
Reproduction
Live-bearing; AROD reports an average litter size of 15.
Medical significance
A bite may cause serious envenoming. Treat any suspected bite as an emergency, call 000 and do not wait for identification.
What to do if you encounter one
Keep your distance and leave the snake a clear route away. Do not handle it, chase it for a photograph or attempt to inspect its mouth. If it is inside a building, keep people and pets clear and contact a qualified local snake catcher.
Similar-looking snakes
Other copperheads look similar. Depending on locality, patternless tiger snakes, Eastern Brown Snakes and Red-bellied Black Snakes can also be confused with copperheads. Do not approach to compare markings.
Photo: Bryce Watts-Parker · CC BY 4.0 (Licence)
Elapidae
Highlands Copperhead
Austrelaps ramsayi
A venomous snake of moist upland areas in south-eastern Australia. Its back ranges from dark grey to reddish brown, and the lips have contrasting bars.
Open identification guide
Photo: Max Tibby · CC0 (Licence)
Elapidae
Tiger Snake
Notechis scutatus
Tiger snakes may be banded, faintly marked or completely plain. They are robust snakes associated with many southern wetlands, but also occur in drier habitats. A black snake in Tasmania, or one without stripes, can still be a tiger snake.
Open identification guide
Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark · CC BY 2.0 (Licence)
Elapidae
Eastern Brown Snake
Pseudonaja textilis
An Eastern Brown Snake is not always brown. Adults can be tan, orange-brown or nearly black, while young snakes may have striking dark bands. A relatively small head and slender body are more useful clues than the name alone.
Open identification guide
Photo: The original uploader was Figaro at English Wikipedia. · Public domain (Licence)
Elapidae
Red-bellied Black Snake
Pseudechis porphyriacus
A glossy black snake often seen around creeks, wetlands and farm dams in eastern Australia. Red or pink along the lower sides is a useful clue, but it can be hidden by the snake's position and is much paler in some northern animals.
Open identification guideTaxonomy notes
Current taxonomic references assign New South Wales populations to Austrelaps ramsayi; this Austrelaps superbus record therefore excludes NSW.
Sources checked
- Australian Reptile Online Database — Lowlands Copperhead (2026-09-25)
- Australian Museum — Copperheads (2026-09-25)
- The Reptile Database — Austrelaps superbus (2026-09-25)
- ANZCOR — First Aid Management of Australian Snake Bite (2026-09-25)
- Victorian Government Wildlife Rehabilitation Guidelines, Part B (2026-09-26)
Still not sure?
Compare this snake with more clues.
A profile is a guide, not a reason to approach or handle a snake.