Spotted black snakes

The spotted black or blue-bellied black snake is found in the drier inland areas of south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales. The body is a dark glossy black, with or without cream spots. The head is slightly distinct from the neck. The average length is around 1.25m, maximum length 2m. They are oviparous (egg-laying).

The spotted black snake is shy and avoids contact with humans but when threatened will flatten its body and emit a loud whistling hiss. Average venom output of this snake is unknown. The toxicity (in mice) of blue-bellied black snake venom is the highest of any of the black snakes. Bites are infrequent and may cause severe local pain and regional lymphadenopathy. Tiger snake antivenom is the treatment of choice.

• Blue-bellied black snake

Related Treatments

• Snake bite, Current treatments

Related Venomous creatures

• Black snakes, Family: Epalid, Genus: Pseudechis
• Collett's snakes, Family: Elapidae, Genus: Pseudechis, Species: P. colletti
• Mulga snakes, Family: Elapidae, Genus: Pseudechis, Species: P. australis
• Red-bellied black snakes, Family: Elapidae, Genus: Pseudechis, Species: P. porphyriacus
• Snakes, Australian, Class: Reptilia, Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes

Books

• Cogger, H. G., Snakes, Encyclopaedia of Papua and New Guinea, vol. 2, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, 1972. [ Details... ]

Book Sections

• Barrett, C., 'Dangerous to Man', in Reptiles of Australia, Crocodiles, Snakes and Lizards, Cassell, Melbourne, 1950, pp. 127-148. [ Details... ]

Journal Articles

• Kellaway, C. H., 'A Preliminary Note on the Venom of Pseudechis Guttatus', The Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 1, 1929, pp. 372-377. [ Details... ]
• Mack, G. and Gunn, S. B., '"De Vis" Types of Australian Snakes', Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, vol. 13, 1953, pp. 58-70. [ Details... ]
• MacKay, R. D., 'A Revision of the Genus Pseudechis', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, vol. 1953-54, 1955, pp. 15-23. [ Details... ]
• Vis, C. W. De, 'Pseudechis Guttata', Ann. Qd. Mus., vol. 6, 1905, pp. 49-50. [ Details... ]