Red-Bellied Black Snake

Pseudechis porphyriacus

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DESCRIPTION

Glossy black on upper. Red and cream belly, with red extending up onto lower flanks. Underside of tail is black. Tip of snout is brown. Those in the northern areas are a pinker colour on belly.

The Red-Bellied Black Snake can be found along the eastern coast of Australia and adjacent inland from the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland to NSW and Victoria and into the south-east of South Australia. Although once quite common through out its range, the Red-Bellied Black now appears to be in decline in NSW and Queensland. It prefers moist areas such as swamps, river banks, wet sclerophyll forests and rainforests, however it can also be found away from wet areas. It is a diurnal snake and is often seen sunbaking but can also lay underwater for some time. The snake feeds mainly on vertebrates with a preference for frogs but will also take other small reptiles and mammals. Mating is in spring and males often fight during this period. Live young are born, five to 18 membranous sacs at a time and the baby snakes emerge within minutes. The Red-Bellied Black Snake is highly venomous and should not be handled by an inexperienced handler.