Australian High Commission
New Zealand
High Commission address: 72-76 Hobson Street, Thorndon, Wellington - Telephone: +64 (0)4 473 6411 - Fax: +64 (0)4 498 7135

Australian Snakes

Red-Bellied Black Snake

Back to Main OzKids Page

Back to OzKids Animal Page

This snake gets its name from the distinctive colour of its belly. Black on top, this snake has a bright red (or sometimes pinkish) belly. The red can be seen just on the sides of the snake as well.

The Red-Bellied Black Snake is commonly found in the eastern and south eastern areas of Australia. Although it generally a timid snake, it is still poisonous, and if cornered will hiss and act aggressively.

The Red-bellied Black Snake generally grows to around 1.2 metres long, but sometimes up to 2 metres. It lives mostly around streams, swamps and lagoons where it can easily get its preferred food source, frogs. It will also eat small mammals such as mice, as well as fish, eels and other small reptiles.

Unlike most other snakes, the Red-Bellied Black Snake gives birth to live babies, anywhere up to 16 at a time.

Related weblinks -
• Learn more about this beautiful, but venomous snake -
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/naracoorte/wonambi/animals/living/snake.html  
• And some more here -
http://www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au/features/snakes/snakedetail.asp?TaxName=Pseudechis+porphyriacus