Tiger Snake

Identification and appearance

The head is broad and fairly blunt, with only a modest narrowing at the neck. Pale crossbands on a dark olive or brown body are familiar, but yellowish-brown and almost black individuals also occur. Regional differences are substantial. A snake flattening its neck is showing a defensive response, not offering a feature to test deliberately.

Other names

Eastern Tiger Snake, Black Tiger Snake

Typical length

Mainland adults average about 1.2 m. Some island populations grow larger; the Australian Museum reports a maximum of 2.4 m.

Body build

robust

Head appearance

broad, blunt, slightly distinct from neck

Key identification features

• Robust body and broad head
• Crossbands may be bold, faint or absent
• Colour and adult size vary between populations

Where it is found

South-eastern Australia, including Tasmania and Bass Strait islands, and a separate south-western Australian range. Queensland populations are localised. The ACT government explicitly records the species in the territory.

Habitat

Tiger Snakes are often associated with creeks, dams, drains, lagoons, wetlands and swamps, but also use grazing land where water and local cover remain. They shelter in fallen timber, dense matted vegetation and disused animal burrows.

Activity

Usually hunts by day, with activity extending into warm evenings. It can swim and climb, so being in water or a tree does not exclude it.

Diet

Eats frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals. Diet differs between populations, including island snakes that take nesting seabirds.

Reproduction

Gives birth to live young. Litter size varies widely with the population and female.

Medical significance

Bites can cause severe, potentially fatal envenoming affecting nerves, muscles and blood clotting.

What to do if you encounter one

Leave a clear route away from people. Do not enter reeds or lift cover to find a snake that has disappeared. If only part of the body was visible, keep the identification uncertain rather than assuming stripes were absent.

Similar-looking snakes

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.

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Photo: Max Tibby · CC0 1.0 (Licence)

Elapidae

Lowlands Copperhead

Austrelaps superbus

A variable venomous copperhead of lowland south-eastern Australia.

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Photo: Ged Tranter · CC BY 4.0 (Licence)

Elapidae

Rough-scaled Snake

Tropidechis carinatus

A dangerously venomous, strongly keeled snake of wetter habitats in eastern Australia.

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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.

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Taxonomy notes

Uses Notechis scutatus for the variable Australian tiger snake, including populations historically called N. ater.