THE REPTILES OF AUSTRALIA - ELAPIDS

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
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Selection of Australian Frogs

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Skinks of Australia

CROCODILES Crocodylia Crocodilia Saltwater freshwater estuarine

REPTILES OF THE WORLD SPECIES LISTS

EASTERN BROWN SNAKE
Pseudonaja textilis
Dangerously Venomous

Usually grows to approximately 5 to 6Ft (1.7 metres)

Eastern Brown Snakes Pseudonaja textilis
This beautiful half grown Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) was photographed in the Canberra (ACT)

Approximate distribution of the Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis
Approximate distribution of the Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)


Young Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) photographed at Onkaparinga, near Adelaide, South Australia
Young Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) photographed at Onkaparinga, near Adelaide, South Australia


Young Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) photographed at Onkaparinga, near Adelaide, South Australia
Young Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) photographed at Onkaparinga, near Adelaide, South Australia

Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis
This Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) was photographed at Billabong Zoo, NSW


Eastern or common brown snake - Pseudonaja textilis
Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

This young Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) that has almost lost its head markings, was photographed in the Sturt Gorge, South Australia
This young Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) that has almost lost its head markings, was photographed in the Sturt Gorge, South Australia


This young Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) that has almost lost its head markings, was photographed in the Sturt Gorge, South Australia
This young Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) was photographed in the Sturt Gorge, South Australia


Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis
Juvenile Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) photographed near Dublin, South Australia


Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis
Juvenile Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) photographed near Dublin, South Australia



Juvenile Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) with banding, photographed at Walkley Heights, near Adelaide South Australia.
Notice that it has flattened its neck, to make itself look larger!



The forked tongue can be seen on this Juvenile Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis), photographed at Walkley Heights, South Australia.



Defensive juvenile Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) with faint banding,
photographed at Walkley Heights, South Australia.

Eastern or common brown snake - Pseudonaja textilis
Juvenile Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) from Seaham, NSW, just North-west of Newcastle

Juvenile Eastern Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja textilis) normally have a black head plus a ring around their neck, however many other snakes, legless lizards and some skinks have similar head markings.
Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis
Bands may or may not be present on the body. The bands usually vanish as the snake matures.


Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis
The above 2 photos of a young Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) from the Adelaide region show the most commonly seen pattern on juveniles of this species.


Eastern or common brown snake - Pseudonaja textilis
Juvenile Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) from South Australia



Underside of a road killed Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) photographed near Willunga, South Australia. Note that this species usually has spots or blotches on its belly that are orange, red or brown.


Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis
Juvenile Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) photographed near Dublin, South Australia


Eastern or common brown snake - Pseudonaja textilis
Juvenile Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) from Seaham, NSW, just North-west of Newcastle

Juvenile Eastern Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja textilis) normally have a black head plus a ring around their neck, however many other snakes, legless lizards and some skinks have similar head markings.
Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis
Bands may or may not be present on the body. The bands usually vanish as the snake matures.


Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis
The above 2 photos of a young Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) from the Adelaide region show the most commonly seen pattern on juveniles of this species.

  
Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)


Adult Eastern Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja textilis) may vary in colour and patterning depending on geographic location, as well as varying between individuals in one locality. They may also have speckles, blotches banding and/or other patterning.

Brown snakes and many other venomous snakes do not always inject venom when biting, however due to the extremely high toxicity of the venom and lack of symptoms in many individuals that have been envenomated, it is vital that first aid is performed immediately (Constrictive bandage etc) and the patient is taken immediately to hospital.

Correct and immediate treatment for Brown and other dangerous snakes increase the chance of survival.

Brown snakes have one of the most toxic snake venoms in the world, often ranked at number 2 worldwide, behind the Inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) , and bites are quite common, however despite that it ranks very low on a world wide scale when rated by human deaths, which would be on average less than 1 human death per year.
Compare that to the Saw scaled viper (not found in Australia) which has a less toxic venom, but is responsible for tens of Thousands of deaths per year.
Surprisingly nobody has died from a bite of an Inland taipan Oxyuranus microlepidotus !


Although people are commonly bitten by dangerous snakes in Australia, the actual number of deaths is actually very low, due to antivenines and medical procedures.

Brown snakes are often described as aggressive! However most snakes behaviour is best described as defensive. They are the most common "large" snake that I encounter in the wild, and occasionally they will rear up (before retreating), especially if startled. However they normally just try and get away as soon as they can, unless cornered. If you attack one or pick one up however, this species will usually not hesitate to bite.

Click here to see photos of Eastern Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja textilis) at flickr

Click here to see photos of Eastern Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja textilis) at flickr



LINKS OF INTEREST

Australo-Papuan Brown Snakes
The University of Melbourne

Click here for more Information about Australian Elapid Snakes

RECOMMENDED AMAZON BOOKS
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Australian Snakes In Captivity (A Guide to) Working with Snakes: A comprehensive information and training manual for professional Australasian snake consultants Kindle Edition

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OTHER LINKS

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Elapids

Elapids

Elapids
of
The World

Elapids
of
Australia




AUSTRALIAN ELAPID SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY



Elapids of South Australia

ELAPID SNAKES OF NSW

Qld ELAPID SNAKES - Elapidae Cobras Coral Snakes

NT ELAPID SNAKES - Elapidae Cobras Coral Snakes

WA ELAPID SNAKES - Elapidae Cobras Coral Snakes

ELAPID SNAKES OF VICTORIA

Elapids of ACT

ELAPIDS OF TASMANIA

Elapids
of South
Australia

Elapids
of
NSW

Elapids
of
Qld

Elapids
of
NT

Elapids
of
WA

Elapids
of
Victoria

Elapids
of
ACT

Elapids
of
Tasmania



AUSTRALIAN REPTILE SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY

Reptiles of South Australia
REPTILES OF VICTORIA
 REPTILES OF NSW REPTILES OF QUEENSLAND REPTILES OF NORTHERN TERRITORY REPTILES OF Western Australia Reptiles of the ACT(Canberra)

Reptiles of South Australia

Reptiles
of
Victoria

Reptiles
of
NSW

Reptiles
of
Qld

Reptiles
of
NT

Reptiles
of
WA

Reptiles
of the
ACT

Reptiles of Tasmania




Reptiles of Lord Howe Island

Reptiles of Christmas Island

Reptiles
of Cocos Keeling Islands

Reptiles of Norfolk Island








Reptiles of Australia

Selection of Australian Frogs

Reptiles of the World

Amphibians of the World

Reptiles
of
Australia

Frogs
of
Australia

Reptiles
of
The World

Amphibians of the
World




About John Fowler | About John Hollister | Report Faulty Link | Report an Error

Contact John Fowler Author of the Australian Herpetology Website, Pythons of the World, - Owner of the Adelaide Reptile Forum

Contact John Hollister Author of John Hollister Reptile Collection - Herping the Trans-Pecos & Sweetwater, Texas Rattlesnake Roundup

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Updated April 11, 2023


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