Reptiles
Western Brown Snake
Pseudonaja nuchalis · also called gwardar
On a red-earth track in the Western Australian outback, a western brown snake lifts the front of its body in an S-shaped curve, ready to strike if the vehicle comes any closer.
Overview
The western brown snake, Pseudonaja nuchalis, is a Least Concern venomous snake of arid scrub, grassland, and woodland across central, northern, and western Australia. Its variable colour, speed, and potent venom make it one of the most important dangerous snakes of the Australian interior.
A snake of every colour
Western brown snakes can be pale tan, orange, red-brown, or almost black, so colour alone is never a safe guide to telling them from other species.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Western Brown Snake: common questions
What is a gwardar?
It is another name for the western brown snake, used particularly in Western Australia.
Is the western brown snake dangerous?
Yes, its venom affects blood clotting and can damage the kidneys, so any bite needs urgent medical treatment.
Why does it vary so much in colour?
It varies from pale tan and orange to reddish brown and almost black, depending on the region where it lives.
Where is the western brown snake found?
It lives in arid and semi-arid scrub, grassland, and woodland across central, northern, and western Australia.