Snakes of Victoria: Museum Victoria

Victoria has almost 30 species of snake. Each of the Information Sheets below describes a species of snake that lives in Victoria and includes information about what each snake looks like, how they behave and where they occur.

Alpine Copperhead Australeps ramsayi

Bandy Bandy Vermicella annulata

Bardick Echiopsis curta

Blind Snakes Ramphotyphlops spp.

Carpet Python Morelia spilota metcalfei

Common or Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis

Common Copperhead Australeps superbus

Coral Snake Simoselaps australis

Diamond Python Morelia spilota spilota

Little Whip Snake Rhinoplocephalus flagellum

Master’s Snake Drysdalia mastersii

Mitchell’s Short-tailed Snake Rhinoplocephalus nigriceps

Red-bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphyriacus

Red-naped Snake Furina diadema

Port Lincoln Snake Rhinoplocephalus spectabilis

Small-eyed Snake Cryptophis nigrescens

Inland Taipan Oxyuranus microlepidota

Tiger Snake Notechis scutatus

Western Brown Snake Pseudonaja nuchalis

White-lipped Snake Drysdalia coronoides

Yellow-bellied Sea Snake Pelamis platurus

Yellow-faced Whipsnake Demansia psammophis

Curl Snake Suta suta

Further Reading

Coventry, A. J. and Robertson, P. 1991. The Snakes of Victoria – A Guide to their Identification. Department of Conservation & Environment/Museum of Victoria.

Cogger, H. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed Books.

Wilson, S. & Swan, G. 2003. Reptiles of Australia. Princeton University Press.

Your comments

I would like to identify a snake seen near Noojee (Loch Valley walk). Maybe 4 ft long, black on top and yellow underneath. I can send a photo if you can't look at this one: http://picasaweb.google.com.au/annsad/NoojeeChristmas2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCP-9jfOonOSCJA#5421232026938570738

At Aire River camping ground at about 9.30 a.m. on 20/02/2010, already very warm day, a small (about 30 cms) grey snake lay stretched across the track just before the bridge over the river. My partner gently touched it with tip of his fishing rod (we were concerned snake would be run over). It quickly slithered away. Is it possibe for you to identify this snake? Many thanks.

Hi Robyn - Unfortunately our Curator for Herpetology is not able to positively identify the snake you saw from description alone. Perhaps you may be able to identify the snake yourself using images on our Bioinformatics website. I hope this helps!

Ann, that looks to be a tiger snake.

That's very possible, Thalia. In an email to Ann our herpetologist explained that the snake in the photograph is either a tiger snake with little banding, or (possibly) a copper head. Colouration in both of these species varies widely. Further images are available here. Hope this helps!

What snakes would be found in Gordon nr Ballarat. We have seen 2 black coloured snakes within a week (neighbours state they have not seen snakes in 10 yrs in this area) 1 small the other approx 4 ft. Thanks

Hi I have just come across a black snake with a yellow belly under some timber outside my home. Is it dangerous or not? It went under our water tank and because it has been very hot l think it,s looking for water. Should l be concerned?

Hi Deb. We referred your query to the Manager of Genetic Resources, who responded with the following:
There are no yellow-bellied black snakes in Victoria, only WA, however lowland copperhead snakes (Austrelaps superbus) and highland copperheads (Australaps ramsayi) have yellow-orange belly scales visible along the side. Both are extremely dangerous and quite common in Victoria. A definite answer cannot be given without a photo of the snake, but we suggest that you be very cautious.

Snakes of Victoria

A Museum Victoria Information Sheet Series

Further Reading

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