Komodo Dragon - Venomous Land and Sea Snakes Resource Page - Elapidae Family of Snakes

Venomous Snakes (Elapidae family of Snakes) The Elapidae family are venomous front-fanged snakes. This family includes three subfamilies, land snakes (elapids), sea snakes (hydrophiinae), and sea kraits (laticaudinae). AUSTRALIAN COPPERHEAD Austrelaps superbus The Australian Copperhead is a highly venomous snake growing to as long as 1.8 meters (6 feet) and varies widely in colour from coppery brown to dark brown and from grey to black. It is the only venomous snake found above the snow line. Many have the copper head colour, however this is not always a distinguishing feature in the Australian Copperhead. Preferring wetland and swamp habitats, they are carnivorous and a large part of their diet is swampland animals such as frogs and tadpoles. Australian Copperheads are found in south-eastern Australia from sub-tropical Queensland, through New South Wales and Victoria and into South Australian, they are also found in northern Tasmania. Image: David Warwick (Kyabram Fauna Park - Oct 2005) BROAD-HEADED SNAKE Hoplocephalus bungaroides The Broad-Headed Snake is found in close proximity to the city of Sydney, in and around sandstone formations. Once common, the loss of habitat and quarying of sandstone have resulted in significantly reduced numbers of this secretive snake, now classified as Endangered. A moderately sized (to around 90cm) and highly venomous snake, it is largely black in colour with yellow markings arranged as irregular crossbands. Despite their shyness, these snakes will strike quickly if they feel cornered. The Broad-headed snake is one of only three species in this genus (Hoplocephalus) which in latin means 'armoured head'. STATUS: ENDANGERED Image: David Warwick (Taronga Zoo Exhibit - Feb 2005) COLLETT'S BLACK SNAKE (DOWN'S OR COLLETT'S TIGER SNAKE) Pseudechis colletti The 19th most venomous snake in the world, the Collett Snake's venom includes cytotoxic, neurotoxic and haemotoxic components. Found only in central Queensland, males can grow to around 2.6 metres (9 feet) in length. Colouring is usually dark tan to black with cream to orange-red cross bands, this snake is has a similar smooth texture to the Red-Bellied Black Snake. STATUS: COMMON/SPARCE Image: David Warwick (Taronga Zoo Exhibit - Feb 2005) DESERT DEATH ADDER Acanthophis pyrrhus Found in spinifex dominated sandy and rocky areas of arid central and western Australia, the Dessert Death Adder is reddish-brown or orange-brown in colour. Growing to only around 75cm in length, the Desert Death Adder is still highly poisonous and potentially capable of killing a human (9th most venomous on the LD50 scale). The Desert Death Adder lures prey by slowly waving its tail in rock crevices or sand and striking when target animals come within range. Image: David Warwick (Taronga Zoo Exhibit - Jan 2005) EASTERN BROWNSNAKE Pseudonaja textilis Second to the Fierce Snake as the most venomous land snake in the World, the Eastern Brownsnake causes significantly higher human mortality as a result of its greater range, numbers and relative aggression. Brown Snakes can grow to over 200cm (7 feet) in length and can be found in all of Australia's eastern mainland areas, prefering forests and woodlands. Although studies show that they are most likely to retreat from human contact, in around 3 per cent of cases, they may advance and confront approaching humans. Their shared habitat and relatively large numbers (Status: Common) has given them a reputation for aggression. Image: David Warwick (Australia Zoo Exhibit - Sep 2006) EGYPTIAN COBRA (BROWN COBRA) Naja haje Sub-species of Naja haje are found throughout Africa and most of the Middle East in a wide variety of habitats. The Egyptian Cobra is one of the most feared and most famous of all snakes with a strong connection into Egyptian mythology and connected with the apparent suicide of Cleopatra. With a maximum length of around 3 metres (10 feet), strong neurotoxic venom, and the classic 'standing pose' that conjures visions of snake charmers, the Egyptian Cobra is an impressive and dangerous snake. Image: David Warwick (Taronga Zoo Exhibit - Feb 2005) FIERCE SNAKE OR INLAND TAIPAN Oxyuranus microlepidotus Considered the most venomous land snake in the World (1st on the LD50 scale by a significant toxicity margin), the fierce snake's bite is overkill for its primary prey, the rat (Rattus villosissimus) and is certainly capable of killing a human that crosses its path. Growing to around 250cm in length, this snake can be found in flat country along the inland Queensland and New South Wales borders in Australia. Colour ranges from olive-brown to dark-brown. Image: David Warwick (Taronga Zoo Exhibit - Jan 2005) KING BROWN SNAKE OR MULGA Pseudechis australis The Mulga or King Brown Snake is actually a part of the Black Snake genus and is also unusual in that its primary toxins are different to most other Australian venomous snakes, causing muscle damage and necrosis (myotoxic) rather than nerve damage (neurotoxic). Growing to as long as 300cm (10 feet), the Mulga is the second largest Australian venomous snake (after the Taipan) and as a result of it's size, volume of venom and potency, it is one of the most dangerous. The Mulga ranges throught Australia with the exception of Victoria and Tasmania and can be found in most habitats except rainforests. Image: David Warwick (Australia Zoo Exhibit - Sep 2006) KING ISLAND TIGER SNAKE OR TASMANIAN TIGER SNAKE Notechis ater humphreysi The King Island Tiger Snake is found on King Island and most of the Bass Strait islands in Australia. Although generally thought to be the same species as found in mainland Australia (Notechis scutatus), the colouring, diet and size can vary significantly, including reports of red-bellied Tiger snakes in Tasmania. Growing to as large as 180cm (6 feet), tiger snakes are found in most habitats and survive in significant numbers, although most populations are in decline and are a protected species. Not as large or venomous as the Chappell Island Tiger Snake, this is still a highly venomous and dangerous reptile. Image: David Warwick (Australia Zoo Exhibit - Sep 2006) RED-BELLIED BLACK SNAKE Pseudechis porphyriacus Found along the eastern Australian coast, the murray river and concentrations around Sydney, the Red-Bellied Black Snake prefers well watered areas such as river banks, swamps and wet eucalypt forests. Growing to an impressive 2 metres (7 feet), the immaculately shiny black snake with red on the lower flanks is a common and iconographic Australian snake. Venom is strongly haemotoxic and cytotoxic and although considered slow moving, this is a dangerous snake to encounter. STATUS: COMMON Image: David Warwick (Taronga Zoo Exhibit - Feb 2005) TAIPAN OR COASTAL TAIPAN Oxyuranus scutellatus Slightly less venomous than the Fierce Snake, the Coastal Taipan is still potentially deadly to humans and listed at number 3 of the top-10 most venomous land snakes (LD50 scale). A swift and alert snake, capable of fast and accurate attacks, the Taipan feeds mainly on mammals such as rats but may also eat birds. Growing to around 300cm in length, this snake can be found along the northern coastal reaches of Australia. Colour ranges from light to dark-browns, usually with a lighter coloured head. Image: David Warwick (Taronga Zoo Exhibit - Jan 2005) TIGER SNAKE Notechis scutatus The Tiger Snake is a highly venomous snake that can grow to as long as 1.5 meters (5 feet) and even 2.1 meters (7 feet) for the Chappell Island variety. The Tiger Snake is widespread throughout Victoria and common in some metropolitan areas of Melbourne, making it Victoria's best known snake. The Tiger Snake is also found in other parts of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. The name Tiger Snake comes from the most frequent pattern which is alternating light and dark bands. The colour of the snake itself varies from light brown specimens through to black. Active both day and night, the Tiger Snake feeds predominantly on small vertebrates. Image: David Warwick (Kyabram Fauna Park - Oct 2005)