Head to head
Tiger Snake vs Red-bellied Black Snake
Tiger Snake
VS Red-bellied Black Snake
The tiger snake and red-bellied black snake are two venomous Australian snakes of creeks and swamps that both give birth to live young and hunt frogs.
| Tiger Snake | Red-bellied Black Snake | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Notechis scutatus | Pseudechis porphyriacus |
| Colour | Often pale bands across a darker body, though some are plain olive, brown, or black | A glossy black back with bright red to pink flanks and belly |
| Temperament | Flattens its neck, raises the front of its body, and hisses before striking | Shy and usually retreats if it can, flattening its neck and hissing only if cornered |
| Danger | A potent venom affecting the nerves, muscles, and blood clotting, and bites need urgent treatment | Venomous, but bites are uncommon and rarely fatal, though any bite needs medical attention |
| Habitat and range | Swamps, creeks, rivers, and coastal grassland across southern and southeastern Australia, including Tasmania | Wetlands, forest, and woodland along the east coast of Australia, from Queensland to South Australia |
| Diet | Frogs, lizards, small mammals, birds, and fish | Frogs, lizards, fish, and other snakes, including other venomous species |
| Special adaptation | On some islands off Tasmania, tiger snakes grow unusually large by feeding on seabird chicks | In places where invasive cane toads occur, populations have evolved some resistance to the toads' toxin |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, though some local populations have declined as wetlands were drained | Least Concern, though habitat loss has affected some local populations |
Tiger Snake vs Red-bellied Black Snake: common questions
Which snake is shy?
The red-bellied black snake, which is shy and usually retreats if it can, hissing only if cornered.
Do both give birth to live young?
Yes, both the tiger snake and the red-bellied black snake give birth to live young rather than laying eggs.
Which one has adapted to cane toads?
The red-bellied black snake, whose populations in cane toad areas have evolved some resistance to the toads' toxin.