Head to head
Tiger Snake vs Eastern Brown Snake
Tiger Snake
VS Eastern Brown Snake
The tiger snake and eastern brown snake are two highly venomous Australian elapids that bring many people into hospital, but they live in different habitats and defend themselves differently.
| Tiger Snake | Eastern Brown Snake | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Notechis scutatus | Pseudonaja textilis |
| Diet | Frogs, lizards, small mammals, birds, and fish, often hunted near water | Mainly the introduced house mouse, and also lizards, frogs, birds, eggs, and other snakes |
| Habitat | Swamps, creeks, rivers, farm dams, and coastal grassland | Farmland, grassland, open woodland, scrub, and the edges of towns |
| Range | Southern and southeastern Australia, including Tasmania | Eastern and central Australia, plus parts of Papua New Guinea |
| Threat display | Flattens its neck, raises the front of its body, and hisses before striking | Highly alert and quick to defend itself with an S-shaped raised strike |
| Venom | A potent venom that affects the nerves, muscles, and blood clotting | The second most toxic land-snake venom after the inland taipan, causing fatal blood-clotting failure and, later, paralysis |
| Human impact | Bites need urgent medical treatment | Responsible for around 60 per cent of fatal snakebites in Australia, despite antivenom |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, though some local populations have declined as wetlands were drained | Least Concern |
Tiger Snake vs Eastern Brown Snake: common questions
Which snake causes more deaths in Australia?
The eastern brown snake, which is responsible for around 60 per cent of fatal snakebites in Australia despite antivenom.
Which one gives birth to live young?
The tiger snake, which gives birth to live young, sometimes in large litters.
Which one lives near water?
The tiger snake, which is often found near swamps, creeks, rivers, and farm dams, where frogs are plentiful.