Red-Bellied Black Snake - Snakes of Melbourne

The Red-Bellied Black Snake is glossy black snake with light pink to brilliant red belly, the red colour extends up the lower flanks. This snake easily distinguishable, sometimes confused as a Copperhead, however, with a glossy appearance it is unlike the matt black of the Copperhead. Also confused with a small eyed snake (Cryptophis nigrescens) which has a red belly, but can only be seen when picked up or turned over.

The Red-Bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) can grow quite large and thick up to 2.5 metres and is very distinctive. This snake is dangerously venomous but bites are uncommon because it is very shy and usually placid and docile. Generally preferring to enact a lengthy bluff display with flattened neck and deep hisses rather than bite. If provoked and cornered it will defend itself and bite. Extreme caution should be exercised.

This species is generally associated with streams, dams and other watercourses, including wet forest areas of Eastern Australia. It will explore adjacent properties in search of food, mates and new territory. I have captured very few of these snakes in close proximity to Melbourne, suburbs included are Bayswater, Diamond Creek, Croydon North and a little further out to Kinglake and Flowerdale. I also heard a report of one captured at Blackburn North.

In my opinion I don’t believe there is a large self sustaining population close to Melbourne. The snakes I have captured may have been inadvertently transported to Melbourne.

Diurnal in Habit, its diet consists mainly of frogs but they will eat birds, lizards, mammals and occasionaly fish and eels. It is also recorded to be cannabalistic.