Reptiles
Mulga Snake
Pseudechis australis · also called king brown snake
On a stony plain in the Australian outback, a mulga snake lifts its broad head from a patch of saltbush, its copper-brown body thick as a man’s wrist.
Overview
The mulga snake, Pseudechis australis, is a Least Concern venomous snake of arid and semi-arid country across much of mainland Australia. Its size, large venom yield, and egg-laying habit make it one of the most distinctive of the Australian black snakes.
A king brown that is not a brown
Despite its nickname, the mulga snake is not a brown snake, and its closest relatives are the black snakes such as the red-bellied black snake.
Status
Least Concern, widespread across a large range.
Mulga Snake: common questions
Is the king brown a type of brown snake?
No, it is a black snake in the genus Pseudechis, more closely related to the red-bellied black snake than to the true brown snakes.
How dangerous is the mulga snake?
It delivers large amounts of venom in a bite, so any bite needs urgent medical treatment.
Does the mulga snake lay eggs?
Yes, it lays eggs, unlike its live-bearing relatives the red-bellied black snake and the tiger snake.
Where is the mulga snake found?
It lives in arid and semi-arid scrub, grassland, and desert across much of mainland Australia.