Spotted Black Snake
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Pseudechis guttatus or Spotted Black Snake
When is a black snake NOT black? Colour variation among most species of black snake is extreme. The Spotted Black Snake can range from cream to orange to black, with speckling or without. As with other members of the Black Snake family, the Spotted Black Snake is not an aggressive animal. When provoked, they will often flatten their heads to appear larger and more threatening.
The Spotted Black Snake grows to an average length of 1.2 metres. Their diet consists of lizards, frogs, small mammals, and other snakes. They are an egg laying snake, with the female producing approximately 13 eggs in a clutch.
The venom of the Spotted Black Snake contains a coagulant, an anticoagulant, haemolysin, a haemorrhagin, and a neurotoxin. The preferred antivenom is specific Black Snake. If this is unavailable, Tiger Snake antivenom will give adequate cross protection.
Did you know...
- The spotted black snake can range from cream to orange to black, with speckling or without.
- Even though there is a specific black snake antivenom, tiger snake antivenom is used to treat bites from the spotted black snake.
- As with other members of the black snake family, the spotted black snake is not an aggressive animal. When provoked, they will often flatten their heads to appear larger and more threatening.
- The spotted black snake grows to an average length of 1.2 metres.
Where in Australia Spotted Black Snakes dwell:
