--- title: "Your Guide to Venomous Snakes in Adelaide | Australia Wide First Aid" description: "Adelaide comprises a wide range of bushland, rural, and semi-rural environments. As such, it is home to a variety of native wildlife, including venomous snakes. Some of the most commonly encountered snakes in Adelaide are highly dangerous to humans. " canonical: "https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/resources/snakes-in-adelaide" --- # Your Guide to Venomous Snakes in Adelaide [Resources](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/resources) › [Bites and Stings](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/resources?genre=bites-and-stings) Bites and Stings Owing to its abundance of national and conservation parks, Adelaide is home to a wide variety of native wildlife, including venomous snakes. In this article, we look at the characteristics and preferred habitats of 5 of the most commonly encountered venomous snakes in Adelaide. For the most part, these snakes have highly toxic venom that can affect living cells and cause dangerous symptoms ranging from bleeding and nausea to irregular heart beat and death. It is important to remember, however, that these snakes will never go out of their way to attack you. In fact, most bites occur when people attempt to approach, capture, or kill snakes. If you need a snake relocated from your home, contact a snake catcher, instead. And to learn about identifying and treating snake bites, head to one of our [general](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/courses/first-aid) or [childcare](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/courses/child-care-first-aid?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Articles&utm_campaign=Snakes-in-adelaide) [first aid](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/resources/what-is-first-aid?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Articles&utm_campaign=Snakes-in-adelaide) courses [near you](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/all-locations) in [Adelaide](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/sa/adelaide?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Articles&utm_campaign=Snakes-in-adelaide). ## The Red bellied black snake ### Appearance - Moderate to robustly built body ranging from 1.5 to 2 m in length - The scales on their back and sides are smooth, glossy, and uniformly black - The lowermost rows of scales on their sides are bright crimson and fade to pink as they reach the middle of the underbelly ### Habitat A distinct population of Red bellied black snakes occurs at the southern end of the Mount Lofty Ranges, including: - Near streams, swamps, and other moist habitats within forests, woodlands, and grasslands - Near drainage canals and farm dams in disturbed areas and rural properties They typically shelter in thick vegetation, mammal burrows, and under large rocks. ## The Tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) ### Appearance - Thick, muscular body ranging from 1 to 1.5 m long - Body scales ranging from dark olive brown to black, interspersed with vertical off-white to yellowish bands (though some individuals may be pattern-less) ### Habitat [Tiger snakes](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/resources/tiger-snake?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Articles&utm_campaign=Snakes-in-adelaide) are mainly found in and around the Murraylands and the Fleurieu Peninsula, including Kangaroo Island. This includes: - Watery environments, such as creeks, rivers, or swamps - Highly degraded areas, such as pastoral lands They typically shelter in matted vegetation, disused animal burrows, and under fallen timber. ## The Eastern brown snake ### Appearance - Slender to moderately built body ranging from 1.5 to 2 m long - The scales on their back and sides are smooth, slightly glossy, and can be almost any shade of brown, from near black to light tan - The scales on their underbelly are generally cream and interspersed with brown, grey, or pinkish-orange blotches ### Habitat The [Eastern brown snake](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/resources/eastern-brown-snake?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Articles&utm_campaign=Snakes-in-adelaide) is the most common snake in South Australia and is regularly encountered in Adelaidean suburbs. They can be found in a wide range of habitats, except for rainforest and alpine regions, and generally shelter in or under: - Animal burrows - Fallen logs - Man-made debris ## The Pygmy copperhead ### Appearance - Muscular, moderately robust body that can reach 115 cm in length - The scales on their back and sides are semi-glossy and uniformly grey brown to blackish - The lowermost rows of scales on their sides are enlarged and usually paler, while their underbelly can range from cream to grey ### Habitat The Pygmy [copperhead](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/resources/australian-copperhead-snake) can be found in the high altitude forests of the Mount Lofty Ranges, and in a wide variety of habitats on Kangaroo Island, including: - Coastal dunes - Open grassland - Closed woodland They typically shelter under flat stones, fallen timber, and in matted vegetation. ## The Little whip snake Though Little whip snakes are venomous and can cause pain, they are virtually harmless to humans. ### Appearance - Small, slender body that generally only reaches 45 cm long - A black, hourglass-shaped patch that extends from the back of the nape to between the eyes - The scales on their back and sides can range from tan to orange and have a dark edge ### Habitat The Little whip snake can be found west to south east of South Australia, including: - Grasslands - Grassy woodlands - Well drained hillsides They have been found under rocks, logs, and partially embedded in the soil. ## Final thoughts Head to our Resource Library for information about [identifying and treating bites](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/resources/first-aid-for-snake-bites?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Articles&utm_campaign=Snakes-in-adelaide) from some of Australia's deadliest snakes. We also cover snake bites in our [general](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/courses/first-aid) and [childcare](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/courses/child-care-first-aid?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Articles&utm_campaign=Snakes-in-adelaide) first aid courses. We have training locations in every state, capital city, and major town throughout Australia, including [Adelaide](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/sa/adelaide?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Articles&utm_campaign=Snakes-in-adelaide) - head to our website to find and enrol in a first aid course [near you](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/all-locations) today. ## Similar articles - [The Common Spiders of Darwin](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/resources/the-common-spiders-of-darwin): Darwin, the tropical capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, is home to a rich diversity of wildlife - including an impressive array of spiders. From the sprawling webs of golden orb-weavers to the cryptic camouflage of trapdoor spiders, these arachnids play a vital role in the local ecosystem. While some may inspire fear, the majority are harmless and even beneficial, helping to control insect populations. - [First Aid for a Cat Bite](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/resources/first-aid-for-a-cat-bite): Cat bites, while often underestimated, can lead to serious health complications if not treated promptly and properly. Cats' mouths harbour a variety of bacteria that can cause infections in humans. - [First Aid for Drop Bear Attacks](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/resources/first-aid-for-drop-bear-attacks): Encounters with wildlife can often be thrilling, but when it comes to the creature known as the drop bear, the experience can quickly turn dangerous. A sharp increase in recent attacks prompts the need for understanding proper first aid procedures in case of an attack. ## Learn this hands-on Reading is a start — a nationally accredited course makes it stick. [Find a course and check live session availability](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/#find-course). --- **Australia Wide First Aid** · RTO 31961 - Phone: (07) 3437 7500 - Email: info@australiawidefirstaid.com.au - Hours: Mon – Fri 7am – 7pm (AEST)