Victoria's Six Most Common Species

VICTORIA’S SIX MOST COMMON SPECIES

HIGHLAND COPPERHEAD LOWLAND COPPERHEAD

WHERE DO THEY LIVE: occasionally found. Has distinct black and WHERE DO THEY LIVE: sides vary from pale yellow to orange-red. In northeastern and eastern white barring on the lip scales and the lower In southern and eastern Victoria in a The head is typically a darker colour than the Victoria in a variety of habitats scales on the snake’s sides vary from whitish variety of habitats from grasslands body. from forests to swamps. to yellow or orangey. The head is typically a and forests to swamps. HOW DO THEY SPEND THEIR DAYS: The highland copperhead is slightly lighter colour than the body. WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE: Usually active during the day though can particularly common in subalpine HOW DO THEY SPEND THEIR DAYS: Though it can grow longer than also be active after dark during hot weather. areas and is one of the few snakes Usually active during the day often in 1.5 metres Lowland Copperheads In late summer females give birth to up to found in Australia’s alpine areas. surprisingly cool weather, but may also be are more likely to be about 1.2m 32, but typically about 15, live young. Feeds WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE: About active after dark on hot days. Females give long. Colour varies markedly, from predominantly on lizards and frogs. Has 1m long but lengths of about 75 cm birth to up to 31, but typically about 15, live very pale brown to coppery to almost extremely potent venom that can cause are most common. Colour is typically young. Feeds predominantly on lizards but black. The lower scales on the snake’s human fatalities. dark charcoal grey to black though will also eat frogs. Has extremely potent lighter brown or reddish snakes are venom that can cause human fatalities.

RED-BELLIED BLACK SNAKE TIGER SNAKE

WHERE DO THEY LIVE: common. Colour is glossy dark black with the WHERE DO THEY LIVE: occasionally the bands are more-or-less Eastern, northeastern and central lower scales on the side and onto the belly Across most of Victoria with absent, and unbanded individuals can Victoria, extending to west of the red or pinkish. the exception of the semi-arid range from light brown to black. The belly Grampians. Not found in northwest HOW DO THEY SPEND THEIR DAYS: northwest of the state in a variety scales are usually yellow. and southwest Victoria and west Usually active during the day, but may be of habitats from grasslands HOW DO THEY SPEND THEIR DAYS: and south Gippsland, but very active after dark on hot days. In late summer and coastal dunes to forests to Active during the day but also often common in east Gippsland. Found females give birth to up to 20, but typically heathlands and swamps, where it active after dark on hot days. Females in a variety of habitats from forests about 12, live young that are born in a can be highly abundant. typically give birth to between 20 and to heathlands and swamps, where it membranous sac. Feeds predominantly on WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE: 40 live young. Feeds predominantly on can be highly abundant. frogs but will also take lizards, snakes and Though it can exceed 1.5 metres frogs but will also take lizards, birds and WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE: small mammals. Venom is considered less in length, snakes less than about small mammals. Will climb shrubs and trees Though it can reach up to 2m in length, toxic than other venomous Australian snakes 1.1m long are most common. Colour to raid bird nests. Possesses extremely snakes of less than about 1.5 m are most of this size, but bites may be fatal to humans. is highly variable; the familiar banding potent venom, and this species has caused that prompted this species’ common more human fatalities in Victoria than any name can be distinct or indistinct, and other species.

EASTERN SMALL-EYED SNAKE EASTERN BROWN SNAKE

WHERE DO THEY LIVE: HOW DO THEY SPEND THEIR DAYS: WHERE DO THEY LIVE: black heads and often have dark bands In the far east of Victoria throughout The eastern small-eyed snake is nocturnal Across most of Victoria with the along the body. Rarely these bands persist Gippsland and the northeast to the and usually only seen when uncovered while exception of the Otway Ranges and into adulthood. Mornington Peninsula and outer sheltering beneath rocks, logs and debris. much of west and south Gippsland. HOW DO THEY SPEND THEIR DAYS: western suburbs of Melbourne. Produces up to eight, but typically about Most common in dry habitats Usually active during the day, but may be Usually found in dry forests and four, live young. Feeds predominantly on ranging from grasslands to dry active after dark on hot days. In late summer heathlands. small lizards. There are no recorded human forest. Often common in disturbed females lay up to 25, but typically about 15, WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE: fatalities caused by this species in Victoria areas. eggs. Feeds on a variety of small vertebrate Grows to about 50cm. Typically has but its venom is considered dangerous, and WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE: animals, most commonly lizards, snakes and a black or dark grey head and a dark it has caused fatalities outside of Victoria. Though it can reach up to 2m in mammals. Venom is extremely toxic and grey body. The underside is whitish length, snakes of less than about has caused numerous human fatalities, and, and opalescent. 1.5m are most common. Colour is combined with a pugnacious attitude when highly variable, ranging from pale yellow threatened, makes this one of the most to almost black. Hatchlings typically have dangerous snakes in the world.

Source: DELWP and Lort Smith Animal Hospital

VICTORIA’S snake season is usually between September and April ALERT BUT NOT are stepped on. Most bites can the pressure immobilisation SNAKE SMARTS • If you find a snake inside, snakes can be dangerous; WHO YOU be avoided simply by being bandage technique. evacuate the room of all brown snakes are venomous butat this time of year, the weather heats up and snakes become more • Leave them alone; snakes GUNNA ALARMED aware and observant in areas people and pets, shut the from birth. • Keep your house free of will most likely leave you CALL? common. And it’s not just those living in country areas who need to • Snakes do not set out where snakes might occur such materials such as rocks, logs door, fill the gap underneath • Clean up after your chooks alone if you also let them be. with a towel and call a • If a snake is found to attack people or as bushland, coastal areas, golf and building materials. Keep and control rodents around professional snake catcher. in an area where be alert with sightings across the suburbs also increasing. But a few our pets but they will courses and on farms. grass cut short removes • Pet food and water both your property as rats and it cannot remain, defend themselves if • Be familiar with basic first shelter for snakes and the attract snakes. • Remember that even small mice attract snakes. the only safe and simple precautions can help to avoid any nasty encounters. they feel threatened or aid and know how to apply species that snakes feed. legal way to move the snake is to call in a licensed snake • Don’t wash site of the starting at either the fingers WHAT TO catcher. Contact region, raising of the head, also remain active after dark, bite as a simple swab test or toes and splint the limb to SNAKE MYTHS details for snake ‘dummy’ strikes) if they are particularly on hot days. DO IF BITTEN can help medical staff to keep it straight. BUSTED catchers may be threatened. Often they will Snakes can also emerge from • All suspected or known identify the species of snake SNAKES ARE ALWAYS snakebites must be • Modern antivenoms obtained from your only strike if the perceived their winter shelter on involved and help guide the AGGRESSIVE, threat continues. sunny days, though treated seriously. are usually effective at local council or from choice of antivenom. PARTICULARLY WHEN Victorian snakes rarely Snakebite victims neutralising the bite of most the Department of THEY ARE BREEDING? SNAKES ARE ONLY move around during must remain as • First aid must be applied snakes. Many defensive Environment, Land, FALSE: Actually, few snakes ACTIVE ON HOT DAYS? still as possible to quickly. Most bites occur snakebites are ‘dry’ bites Water and Planning are aggressive and will only FALSE: Though most snakes prevent the spread of on hands, feet or limbs where the snake does not on 136 186. put on a defensive display are active in warm venom and call 000 so bandage over the bite inject any venom, and no (hissing, flattening of the neck weather they will often immediately. firmly then work up the limb antivenom is required.