The Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus) is a large, dangerously venomous snake found across parts of southern Australia. In New South Wales, it is strongly associated with wetlands, swamps, creeks, lagoons and other areas where water and dense ground cover occur together.
Tiger Snakes are much less commonly encountered across Greater Sydney than Red-bellied Black Snakes or Eastern Brown Snakes. However, they do occur in suitable habitat and should never be ruled out simply because a snake does not have obvious bands.
If you find a Tiger Snake or any unidentified snake, keep your distance, watch where it goes and call Sydney Snake Catcher on 1300 599 938.
Scientific name: Notechis scutatus
Family: Elapidae
Average length: About 1.2 metres
Maximum length: Mainland animals may reach approximately 2.1 metres
Venom rating: Dangerously venomous
Activity: Mainly active during the day
Reproduction: Gives birth to live young
Conservation status: Not listed as threatened in NSW
Tiger Snakes are moderately large, strongly built snakes with broad, deep heads that are only slightly distinct from the neck. Their bodies are noticeably more robust and muscular than those of Eastern Brown Snakes.
The classic Tiger Snake has dark olive, brown or black colouring with lighter cream or yellow crossbands. These bands give the species its common name, but they are not present in every individual.
Tiger Snakes may be:
The bands, when present, vary considerably in width and definition. Some individuals have bold, contrasting bands, while others have markings that are difficult to see. Completely unbanded Tiger Snakes also occur.
The underside is usually pale yellow, cream, grey or olive and may become darker towards the tail. The scales are relatively large and semi-glossy.
When threatened, a Tiger Snake may flatten its neck and upper body, making the head and forebody appear considerably broader.
Because Tiger Snakes vary so much in colour and pattern, identification should not be based on bands alone. Never approach a snake to inspect its markings.
Juvenile Tiger Snakes generally resemble smaller versions of the adults, but their patterning can be more distinct. They are often grey, brown or olive with pale crossbands, although unbanded juveniles also occur.
Young Tiger Snakes may be confused with several other species, including Rough-scaled Snakes and Stephens’ Banded Snakes. Depending on their colour and pattern, they may also be mistaken for juvenile Eastern Brown Snakes.
Juvenile Tiger Snakes are venomous from birth. Their smaller size does not make a suspected bite any less of a medical emergency.
The Tiger Snake’s highly variable appearance means it can be confused with several other snakes found in or near the Sydney region.
Red-bellied Black Snakes (Pseudechis porphyriacus) have glossy black upper surfaces and red, pink or orange colouring along the lower sides of the body. They are also strongly associated with wetlands and waterways.
Dark, unbanded Tiger Snakes may be mistaken for Red-bellied Black Snakes, particularly when the underside cannot be seen.
Some Eastern Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja textilis) retain body bands and may superficially resemble a Tiger Snake. Eastern Brown Snakes generally have a slimmer build and a smaller head, but these differences should not be assessed at close range.
The Rough-scaled Snake (Tropidechis carinatus) is a dangerously venomous species associated with moist forests and waterways. It has keeled scales that give the body a rough appearance, but this feature is difficult to assess without close examination.
Copperheads (Austrelaps species) are robust snakes that can resemble unbanded Tiger Snakes. They are more commonly associated with cooler parts of south-eastern Australia and are not typical snakes of suburban Sydney.
Colour and pattern alone are not reliable enough to confirm a snake’s identity. Treat any unidentified snake as potentially dangerous and leave identification to an experienced snake catcher or herpetologist.
Tiger Snakes have a fragmented distribution across south-eastern and south-western Australia. In New South Wales, they occur mainly in the cooler southern and coastal parts of the state.
Within the Greater Sydney region, Tiger Snakes have a more localised distribution than Eastern Brown Snakes or Red-bellied Black Snakes. They are most likely to occur in areas containing suitable wetland habitat, particularly around coastal swamps, creeks, lagoons, drainage systems and densely vegetated waterways in the Blue Mountains and occasionally within the Sydney Basin.
Suitable Tiger Snake habitat can include:
Tiger Snakes may shelter beneath fallen timber, inside abandoned animal burrows, beneath debris or within thick, matted vegetation.
Although strongly associated with water, they are not restricted to the water’s edge. A Tiger Snake may move through surrounding grassland, woodland or developed land while searching for food, shelter or a mate.
Tiger Snakes are mainly active during the day, although they may also forage on warm evenings. They are strong swimmers and regularly search for prey in and around water. They can remain submerged for several minutes and are also capable climbers.
A Tiger Snake will generally attempt to escape if it is given sufficient space. It does not hunt or deliberately chase people.
If cornered or repeatedly approached, a Tiger Snake may defend itself by:
This defensive display is a warning that the snake feels threatened. Move away slowly and give it room to escape.
Many snakebites occur when people attempt to catch, move or kill a snake. Do not use a broom, rake, shovel, hose or other household item to force it away.
Tiger Snakes have a varied diet that reflects their association with wetlands and waterways. Their prey includes:
Frogs are an important food source in many Tiger Snake populations. Properties adjoining frog-rich wetlands, dams or drainage systems may provide both suitable prey and shelter.
Tiger Snakes can hunt on land, in water and occasionally above the ground. They have been recorded climbing vegetation and human-made structures.
Reducing rodents and removing clutter can make a property less attractive to snakes, but it is neither practical nor desirable to eliminate the native frogs and other wildlife associated with healthy wetlands.
Tiger Snakes are dangerously venomous and were responsible for numerous deaths before the development of modern antivenom and improved snakebite treatment.
Tiger Snake venom can affect several systems within the body. Envenomation may cause:
Local pain and swelling may occur, but the appearance of the bite does not indicate whether venom has been injected. Fang marks may be small or difficult to see.
Not every bite results in envenomation, but this can only be determined through medical assessment and blood testing. Every suspected Tiger Snake bite must be treated as a medical emergency.
Prompt pressure-immobilisation first aid and hospital treatment greatly improve the outcome.
If you see a Tiger Snake or any unidentified snake at your home or workplace:
Do not try to catch, kill, corner or move the snake.
A photograph can help with identification, but only take one from a safe distance. Never move closer to obtain a clearer photograph.
If the snake disappears into vegetation or beneath a structure, note the exact location and direction of travel. This information can help the snake catcher assess the situation.
Sydney Snake Catcher provides a 24-hour snake identification and removal service across Greater Sydney.
Treat every suspected snakebite as an emergency, even if the person feels well or there are no obvious fang marks.
Do not wash the bite site, cut or suck the wound, apply a tourniquet, or attempt to catch or kill the snake.
Do not remove clothing to apply the bandage. Bandage over the clothing if necessary.
Tiger Snakes can pose a serious risk to dogs and cats. Dogs commonly initiate encounters by approaching, barking at or attempting to attack snakes. The snake then bites defensively.
Signs of snakebite in a pet may include:
Symptoms vary, and an animal may appear to recover briefly before deteriorating.
If snakebite is suspected, keep the animal as still as possible and transport it to a veterinarian immediately. Call the clinic while travelling if another person can do so safely.
Do not wait for symptoms to become severe.
Unlike Eastern Brown Snakes, Tiger Snakes do not lay eggs. Females give birth to live young, usually during late summer or autumn.
Litter sizes vary considerably and may range from approximately 10 to more than 60 young. The number depends on factors including the female’s size, condition and population.
The young are born enclosed in thin membranes, which they quickly break through. They are independent from birth and receive no parental care.
Male Tiger Snakes may engage in ritualised combat during the breeding season. The males partially intertwine their bodies and attempt to push each other down. This behaviour can be mistaken for mating.
Finding a juvenile Tiger Snake does not necessarily mean that the mother or an entire litter remains nearby. Young snakes disperse and may travel from their place of birth.
Tiger Snakes are most active during the warmer months, particularly from spring through autumn. They may also emerge to bask on mild winter days.
Their activity is influenced by:
During cooler periods, Tiger Snakes may shelter in animal burrows, beneath large rocks, inside fallen timber or underground.
In hot weather, they may remain close to water or seek shelter beneath vegetation and structures.
You cannot make an outdoor property completely snake-proof, particularly if it adjoins a wetland or waterway. However, you can reduce suitable shelter and food sources around buildings.
Practical measures include:
Vegetation around natural wetlands provides important habitat for frogs and other wildlife. Property maintenance should focus on the immediate area around homes and buildings rather than clearing native wetland habitat.
These measures can reduce the likelihood of an encounter but cannot prevent every snake from entering or passing through a property.
The Tiger Snake is a native, protected animal and should only be captured and relocated by an appropriately licensed snake catcher.
If you find a Tiger Snake—or any snake you cannot confidently identify—keep your distance, watch where it goes and call Sydney Snake Catcher on 1300 599 938.
The Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus) is one of Australia’s most recognisable and dangerously venomous snakes. Although Tiger Snakes are now uncommon across metropolitan Sydney, localised populations remain within the wider Greater Sydney region, including suitable habitat around the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and cooler, wetter areas adjoining swamps, creeks and other waterways.
This robust species varies considerably in colour and may be strongly banded, faintly banded or completely unbanded. Tiger Snakes are generally shy and avoid people when given the opportunity, but their potent venom means every encounter must be treated with extreme caution. Residents in Sydney’s outer suburbs and bushland-fringe areas may occasionally find a Tiger Snake near a yard, shed, dam, drainage corridor or water feature, particularly during the warmer months.
Sydney Snake Catcher provides licensed Tiger Snake removal and reptile relocation across Sydney, including the Blue Mountains and surrounding regions.
For more information head to www.urbanreptileremoval.com.au/sydney-reptile-species/tiger-snake
