Ultimate Snake Identification Guide
Quickly identify reptiles in Sydney with our guide. Browse images and key details about local snakes and lizards, including their habitats and behavior. Need assistance? Contact our 24/7 snake removal service.
A Guide To Identifying Venomous Snakes
Sydney is home to some of Australia’s most venomous snakes, including the Eastern Brown Snake, Red-bellied Black Snake, and Tiger Snake. These snakes are frequently encountered in urban and bushland areas, making it essential to know how to identify them and stay safe. Learn more about Sydney’s venomous snakes and how to coexist safely with these fascinating reptiles.
Whip Snake
Demansia psammophis
Slender, fast-moving snakes with smooth olive to grey scales and a distinctive pale stripe across their face. Can be mistaken for an Eastern Brown Snake.
Slender, fast-moving snakes with smooth olive to grey scales and a distinctive pale stripe across their face. Can be mistaken for an Eastern Brown Snake.
Copperhead Snake
Agkistrodon contortrix
Medium-sized, robust with a glossy appearance, typically brown to reddish-copper in colour. Although venomous, bites are rare as they are shy and avoid confrontation.
Medium-sized, robust with a glossy appearance, typically brown to reddish-copper in colour. Although venomous, bites are rare as they are shy and avoid confrontation.
King Brown Snake
Pseudechis australis
A highly venomous Australian snake with a robust build, smooth scales, and variable coloration. It preys on reptiles, mammals, and birds.
Red-Bellied Black Snake
Pseudechis porphyriacus
A medium-sized venomous snake with glossy black upper scales and a striking red or pink underside. It prefers wetlands and feeds on frogs, fish, and reptiles.
A medium-sized venomous snake with glossy black upper scales and a striking red or pink underside. It prefers wetlands and feeds on frogs, fish, and reptiles.
Eastern Brown Snake
Pseudonaja textilis
A slender, highly venomous snake with varying shades of brown and a pale underside. Active during the day, it preys on rodents, reptiles, and birds.
Bandy-Bandy Snake
Vermicella annulata
A small, venomous snake with striking black and white bands. Nocturnal and fossorial, it feeds primarily on blind snakes and is rarely aggressive.
Tiger Snake
Notechis scutatus
The Tiger Snake is a venomous Australian species, known for its striped pattern, muscular build, and preference for habitats near water sources.
The Tiger Snake is a venomous Australian species, known for its striped pattern, muscular build, and preference for habitats near water sources.
Broad-Headed Snake
Hoplocephalus bungaroides
A medium-sized, venomous snake with a flat, triangular head and dark bands. Nocturnal and arboreal, it preys on reptiles, birds, and mammals.
A medium-sized, venomous snake with a flat, triangular head and dark bands. Nocturnal and arboreal, it preys on reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Death Adder Snake
Acanthophis antarcticus
A short, venomous snake with a thick body, triangular head, and a luring tail tip. Ambushes prey like reptiles, birds, and mammals in diverse habitats.
A short, venomous snake with a thick body, triangular head, and a luring tail tip. Ambushes prey like reptiles, birds, and mammals in diverse habitats.
Stephen's Banded Snake
Hoplocephalus stephensii
A venomous, slender snake with distinct black and white bands. Secretive and nocturnal, it inhabits coastal regions, preying on small reptiles and amphibians.
A venomous, slender snake with distinct black and white bands. Secretive and nocturnal, it inhabits coastal regions, preying on small reptiles and amphibians.
A Guide To Identifying Non-Venomous Snakes
Here are several non-venomous species found in Sydney, such as the Diamond Python, Green Tree Snake, and Common Keelback. These snakes are harmless to humans and play a crucial role in controlling pests like rodents. Understanding how to distinguish non-venomous snakes from their venomous counterparts helps promote safe coexistence with Sydney’s diverse wildlife.
Carpet Python
Morelia spilota
A large, non-venomous constrictor with a unique pattern of yellow, black, and brown. Agile climbers, carpet pythons prey on mammals, birds, and reptiles.
A large, non-venomous constrictor with a unique pattern of yellow, black, and brown. Agile climbers, carpet pythons prey on mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Green Tree Snake
Dendrelaphis punctulatus
A slender, non-venomous snake with bright green scales. Arboreal and agile, it feeds on small reptiles, frogs, and insects in tropical forests and gardens.
Keelback Snake
Xenochrophis piscator
A non-venomous, agile snake with keeled scales, thriving near water. It preys on frogs, fish, and small reptiles in wetlands and garden habitats.
Diamond Python
Morelia spilota
A large, non-venomous snake with a distinctive diamond pattern. Known for its climbing ability, it hunts birds, mammals, and reptiles in forests and woodlands.
A large, non-venomous snake with a distinctive diamond pattern. Known for its climbing ability, it hunts birds, mammals, and reptiles in forests and woodlands.
Spotted Python
Antaresia maculosa
A small, non-venomous snake with a pattern of light and dark spots. It is a skilled climber and constrictor, preying on small mammals, birds, and reptiles.
A Guide To Identifying Other Reptiles In Sydney
Explore the diversity of Sydney's reptiles, including the Blue-tongue Lizard, Lace Monitor, Skinks, and Water Dragons. Click on any reptile to learn more about its appearance, habitat, and behavior, and discover the fascinating details of our local wildlife.
Blue Tongue Lizard
Tiliqua
A robust lizard with a striking blue tongue, often used to ward off predators. It feeds on plants, insects, and small animals, living in forests and grasslands.
Lace Monitor
Varanus varius
A large, predatory lizard with a patterned, scaly appearance. Known for its climbing abilities, it hunts birds, eggs, and small mammals in forests and woodlands.
A large, predatory lizard with a patterned, scaly appearance. Known for its climbing abilities, it hunts birds, eggs, and small mammals in forests and woodlands.
Water Dragon
Intellagama lesueurii
A robust, semi-aquatic lizard with a spiny crest and long tail. Found near water, it feeds on insects, small mammals, and plants, thriving in forests and wetlands.
A robust, semi-aquatic lizard with a spiny crest and long tail. Found near water, it feeds on insects, small mammals, and plants, thriving in forests and wetlands.
Snake-Eyed Skink
Ablepharus kitaibelii
A small, terrestrial lizard with smooth, glossy scales and a tail resembling an eye. It preys on insects and small invertebrates, typically inhabiting rocky, arid regions.
A small, terrestrial lizard with smooth, glossy scales and a tail resembling an eye. It preys on insects and small invertebrates, typically inhabiting rocky, arid regions.
Bearded Dragon
Pogona
A robust lizard with spiny "beard" throat flaps, known for its calm demeanor. It feeds on insects, fruits, and vegetables, thriving in deserts and arid woodlands.
A robust lizard with spiny "beard" throat flaps, known for its calm demeanor. It feeds on insects, fruits, and vegetables, thriving in deserts and arid woodlands.