Red-bellied black snake fact sheet – djirrabidi

What is a red-bellied black snake?

Red-bellied black snakes are a medium-sized snake with a black head and body, red or crimson sides and have a red, pinkish or cream coloured belly. They were once called the crimson-sided snake and sometimes they are just called black snakes. Their scientific name is Pseudechis porphyriacus. The traditional Darug name for red-bellied black snakes is djirrabidi.

All snakes are ectothermic. Being ectothermic means they are unable to produce their own heat and rely on the warmth from the outside environment such as the sun or a warm rock to heat their bodies.

Red-bellied black snakes are found in eastern Australia, all the way from Queensland to Victoria and are one of the most common snakes found there.

An adult red-bellied black snake

Red-bellied black snakes have a shiny black body, red sides and a cream or pink belly.

Where do red-bellied black snakes live?

Red-bellied black snakes are usually found near water in habitats such as creeks, dams, rivers, lakes and wetlands.  They like to hide in long grass or under logs or rocks. They are good swimmers and will search for food in and under the water.

Snakes sometimes shelter in a burrow that another animal has dug. They don’t have any limbs to dig a hole and so don't live in holes in the ground.

Red-bellied black snakes live near water and are good swimmers.

What do red-bellied black snakes eat?

Red-bellied black snakes love to eat frogs and small lizards. They will also occasionally eat other small vertebrates such as rats and mice. Red-bellied black snakes like to catch fish and eels in the water and will sometimes even eat other snakes. They do not eat humans.

Red-bellied black snakes love to eat frogs.

How are red-bellied black snakes adapted to their environment?

Red-bellied black snakes try to keep their body temperature between 28 and 31 degrees celsius. They are ectothermic so when they get too cold they try to find a patch of sun to bask in or a warm rock to heat up their bodies. The black colour of the scales on their backs helps to warm them quickly. When they get too hot snakes find shelter out of the sun.

Red-bellied black snakes can move fast on both land and in the water to escape from predators. Being black these snakes camouflage well with their surroundings, especially when they are curled up in the shade under the bushes.

A red-bellied black snake warming itself on a sunny rock.

What is the life cycle of red-bellied black snakes?

Red-bellied black snakes mate in spring when the males travel around to find a female.

The females are ready to give birth in summer. They give birth to between 5 and 40 live babies. This is unusual as most species of snakes lay eggs.

After the baby snakes, called hatchlings, are born neither their mother or father takes any further care of them. They are independent from birth.

Red-bellied black snakes breed in spring.

Red-bellied black snakes give birth to live young.

A juvenile red-bellied black snake

What threats do red-bellied black snakes face?

Red-bellied black snakes sometimes get run over by cars when they are basking on a warm asphalt road. They also die when they eat cane toads which are a poisonous introduced pest species.

When humans disturb waterways, or remove the natural vegetation around them, red-bellied snakes can no longer live there. Some humans harm red-bellied black snakes because they do not realise that they are very timid and pose very little threat to humans.

It is illegal to kill a red-bellied black snake or any other native animal in Australia for any reason.

What should you do if you see a red-bellied black snake?

At the Field of Mars Reserve

If you are visiting the Field of Mars Reserve on an excursion the teacher will always be at the front of the group and will tell you what to do. Usually the snake will move away from the group as fast as it can. Sometimes the teacher will ask you to back away or walk around where a snake has been seen. Sometimes the group may safely view a red-bellied black snake in the water from the safety of the boardwalk.

On your own

If you see a snake when you are by yourself you should firstly freeze so the snake knows you are not a threat. Secondly you should back away very slowly then tell an adult.

At home

It is illegal to kill a snake in Australia. Some snakes are completely harmless and will make their own way out of your garden. But some snakes are dangerous and are better off being removed by a professional, especially with young children or pets around.

There are lots of people and groups who will come and remove a snake from your property. They know how to do this safety and will release the snake a long way away without hurting it.

There are wildlife rescue services such as WIRES and Sydney Wildlife Rescue Service that can relocate snakes. There are also private snake removal companies. Some fire brigades also rescue snakes.

Important facts about snakes and people

• Snakes can feel the vibrations your footsteps make and they know you are too big to be prey.
• Red-bellied black snakes will do everything they can to get away from you so never back them into a corner and never walk towards them.
• Snake do not want to bite humans. That is a waste of their energy and potentially venom. They will only ever bite when they feel threatened, so never kick, poke a stick at or throw anything at a snake.
• There has never been a confirmed death from a red-bellied black snake, but they are venomous and their bite can make you sick.

Red-bellied black snakes should be left alone.

Related fact sheets

More reptile fact sheets

• Reptiles – overview
• Eastern blue-tongued lizard
• Eastern water dragon

Habitats and environments used by red-bellied black snakes

• Leaf litter habitats
• Ground cover habitats
• Rock and log habitats
• Coastal salt marsh
• Eucalypt forest
• Field of Mars Reserve

Animals linked through food webs

• Striped marsh frog (prey)
• Invertebrates – overview (shared habitats, leaf litter prey)
• Kookaburra (predator)