Red-bellied black snake

This article is about the snake native to Australia. For the snake native to North America, see Storeria occipitomaculata.
Red-bellied black snake
Red-bellied black snake at
Brisbane Forest Park, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Pseudechis
Species: P. porphyriacus
Binomial name
Pseudechis porphyriacus
(Shaw, 1794)
Range of red-bellied black snake (in red)

The red-bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) is a species of elapid snake native to eastern Australia. Though its venom is capable of causing significant morbidity, a bite from it is not generally fatal and is less venomous than other Australian Elapid snakes. It is common in woodlands, forests and swamplands of eastern Australia. It is one of Australia's best-known snakes, as it is common in urban areas along the eastern coast of Australia. It has an average total length (including tail) of 1.5 to 2 metres (4 ft 11 in to 6 ft 7 in).[1]

Taxonomy

Pseudechis porphyriacus was first described by George Shaw in Zoology of New Holland (1794), placing it in the genus Coluber.[2] He believed the snake to be harmless to people.[3] The accompanying illustration was attributed to James Sowerby, but is regarded as being produced from drawings by John White.[4] The genus Pseudechis was created for it by Johann Georg Wagler in 1830, though several subsequent species have been added. Snake expert Eric Worrell analyzed the skulls of the genus and found that of the red-bellied black snake to be the most divergent.[5]

Description

The red-bellied black snake is glossy black on the dorsal surface and red, crimson or pink in colour on the lower sides and belly. The snout is often a lighter brown colour. It is a relatively large species of snake reaching up to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in total length (including tail),[6] with an extreme example measuring 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in), although an average sized specimen would be closer to 1.4 metres (4 ft 7 in). Like all Elapid snakes it is front fanged. It has 17 mid-body scale rows. Juveniles are similar to the eastern small-eyed snake, with which it can be easily confused.[7]

Distribution and habitat

The red-bellied black snake is native to the east coast of Australia. It can be found in the urban forest, woodland, plains and bushland areas of the Blue Mountains, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Cairns and Adelaide. It is most commonly seen close to dams, streams, billabongs and other bodies of water.[1]

Disposition and behaviour

Psuedechis porphyriacus is generally not an aggressive species. However, when provoked, it will recoil into its striking stance as a threat, but will try to escape at the first opportunity.[8] It is most active by day. When not hunting or basking it may be found beneath timber, rocks and rubbish or down holes and burrows.

Diet

Red-bellied black snake in Kowmung River, New South Wales

The diet of red-bellied black snake primarily consists of frogs, but it also preys on reptiles and small mammals. They also eat other snakes, including those of their own species.

Venom

The venom of red-bellied black snake consists of neurotoxins, myotoxins, coagulants and also has haemolytic properties. Bites from red-bellied black snake are rarely life-threatening due to the snake usually choosing to inject little venom toxin, but are still in need of immediate medical attention. Tiger snake antivenom is used to treat bites.[9] While black snake antivenom can be used, tiger snake antivenom can be used at a lower dose. The smaller dose is cheaper to produce, and is less likely to cause a reaction in the patient.[10] Patients may suffer anosmia. [11]

Reproduction

Red-bellied black snakes are ovoviviparous; that is, they give birth to live young in individual membranous sacs.[1] The young, numbering between eight and forty, emerge from their sacs very shortly after birth, and have an average length of about 122 millimetres (4.8 in).[12] In the wild, few will survive to reproduce.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Swan, Steven K.; Wilson, Gerry (2010). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia (3rd ed.). Chatswood, New South Wales: New Holland Publishers. ISBN 978-1-877069-76-5.
  2. ↑ Pseudechis porphyriacus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  3. ↑ Williams, David; Wüster, Wolfgang; Fry, Bryan Grieg (2006). "The good, the bad and the ugly: Australian snake taxonomists and a history of the taxonomy of Australia's venomous snakes". Toxicon. 48 (7): 919–30. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.07.016. PMID 16999982.
  4. ↑ Picture Library State Library of Victoria
  5. ↑ Worrell, Eric (1961). "Herpetological Name Changes". West Australian Naturalist 8: 18–27. http://www.hotkeepers.com/aho/pdf/menu2/worrell1963.pdf
  6. ↑ Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "Massive red-bellied black snake surprises Newcastle wrangler called in to remove it". Retrieved 2014-10-02.
  7. ↑ Reptile Park. "Red Bellied Black Snake". Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  8. ↑ Bain, Libby. "The Australian Reptile Park and Wildlife Sanctuary". Red-bellied Black Snake – Pseudechis porphyriacus. Australian Reptile Park. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  9. ↑ Toxinology.com. "CSL Antivenom Handbook". Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  10. ↑ Mirtschin, Peter. "Relative Toxicity of Australian Snakes". Archived from the original on 2007-10-28. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  11. ↑ "Clinical effects of red-bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) envenoming and correlation with venom concentrations: Australian Snakebite Project (ASP-11)". mja.com.au.
  12. ↑ Cogger, Harold G (1983) [1979]. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia (Rev. ed.). Reed. p. 449. ISBN 0883590484.
  13. ↑ Tab. X of: Zoology and botany of New Holland and the isles adjacent / the zoological part by George Shaw, the botanical part by James Edward Smith; the figures by James Sowerby.

Further reading

Data related to Pseudechis porphyriacus at Wikispecies Media related to Pseudechis porphyriacus at Wikimedia Commons

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