Pseudechis porphyriacus
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%
The red-bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is indigenous to Australia. Originally described by George Shaw in 1794 as a species new to science, it is one of eastern Australia's most commonly encountered snakes. Averaging around 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) in total length (tail included), it has glossy black upperparts, bright red or orange flanks, and a pink or dull red belly. It is not aggressive and generally retreats from human encounters, but will defend itself if provoked. Although its venom can cause significant illness, no deaths have been recorded from its bite, which is less venomous than other Australian elapid snakes. The venom contains neurotoxins, myotoxins, and coagulants and has haemolytic properties. Victims can also lose their sense of smell.
Common in woodlands, forests, swamplands, along river banks and waterways, the red-bellied black snake often ventures into nearby urban areas. It forages in bodies of shallow water, commonly with tangles of water plants and logs, where it hunts its main prey item, frogs, as well as fish, reptiles, and small mammals. The snake is a least-concern species according to the IUCN, but its numbers are thought to be declining due to habitat fragmentation and decline of frog populations. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Noosa National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Taronga Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Melbourne Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Sydney Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Symbio Wildlife Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Red-bellied Black Snake sighting in Sydney on a given day, based on 589 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 5th most-seen of the 39 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February and September
In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Red-bellied Black Snake in Sydney on a given day, against about 10% in July, the lowest month.
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Red-bellied Black Snake sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Red-bellied Black Snake sightings, Sydney has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Brisbane (Australia, about 10%).
Same family: Elapidae
The closest relatives of the Red-bellied Black Snake that you can see in Sydney (family Elapidae, Elapid Snakes) are Golden Crowned Snake (about 10%) and Eastern Brown Snake (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Red-bellied Black Snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Sydney (589 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
