Home/Snake ID

Snake ID guide.
South East
Queensland.

South East Queensland is home to a wide variety of snake species, and encounters are a normal part of living here. This guide covers the species we are called out to identify most often around homes, workplaces and the outdoors.

How to use this guide

Browse the species below and select the one that most closely resembles what you have seen. Each profile covers identification features, habitat, diet, behaviour and whether the species is venomous.

Still unsure? Send us a photo taken from a safe distance and we will identify it for you.

+61 418 409 106 Send a photo

Never interact with wildlife you cannot identify

Every reptile on this page is protected wildlife — including the two that are not snakes at all. Taking, handling, moving or harming one without the appropriate permit is an offence under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992 carrying substantial penalties, and with a venomous species it is extremely dangerous besides.

Keep a safe distance and allow the animal space to move away — most snakes avoid people when left undisturbed. If it stays around your home, workplace or a high-traffic area, call us.

Species — 38 profiles

Start with the
closest match.

Non-venomous Mildly venomous Dangerously venomous Not a snake Every species below is protected wildlife. Identification here is a guide, not a substitute for a licensed handler.

Land snakes 22

Coastal Carpet Python

Morelia spilota mcdowelli

Non-venomous 2 m, to ~4 m

Eastern Brown Snake

Pseudonaja textilis

Dangerously venomous 1.5 m, to over 2 m

Coastal Taipan

Oxyuranus scutellatus

Dangerously venomous 1.5–2 m, to ~3 m

Green Tree Snake

Dendrelaphis punctulatus

Non-venomous 1–2 m

Brown Tree Snake

Boiga irregularis

Mildly venomous 1.2–2 m

Red-bellied Black Snake

Pseudechis porphyriacus

Dangerously venomous 1.2–1.5 m, to ~2 m

Eastern Small-eyed Snake

Cryptophis nigrescens

Dangerously venomous ~50 cm, to ~1 m

Keelback Snake

Tropidonophis mairii

Non-venomous 60–75 cm, to ~1 m

Rough-scaled Snake

Tropidechis carinatus

Dangerously venomous 60 cm – 1 m

Yellow-faced Whip Snake

Demansia psammophis

Mildly venomous ~80 cm

Marsh Snake

Hemiaspis signata

Mildly venomous 50–80 cm

Common Death Adder

Acanthophis antarcticus

Dangerously venomous 40–70 cm, to ~1 m

Spotted Python

Antaresia maculosa

Non-venomous 1–1.4 m

Stephens’ Banded Snake

Hoplocephalus stephensii

Dangerously venomous 70 cm – 1.2 m

Pale-headed Snake

Hoplocephalus bitorquatus

Dangerously venomous 60–90 cm

Tiger Snake

Notechis scutatus

Highly venomous 1.2 m, to over 2 m

Southern Dwarf Crowned Snake

Cacophis krefftii

Weakly venomous 25–35 cm

Golden-crowned Snake

Cacophis squamulosus

Weakly venomous 50–75 cm

White-crowned Snake

Cacophis harriettae

Weakly venomous ~40 cm

Red-naped Snake

Furina diadema

Weakly venomous 30–40 cm

Bandy Bandy

Vermicella annulata

Weakly venomous 50–60 cm

Blind Snake

Anilios nigrescens

Non-venomous 20–50 cm

Sea snakes 7

Every sea snake in Queensland waters is venomous, and they cannot be told apart reliably in the water or on the sand by anyone without training. Treat all of them as dangerous, never handle a stranded one, and never take one out of a net by hand.