Common Sydney Snakes
A quick look at some of the most commonly encountered snakes in Sydney.
The following is intended as a general guide only.
Any snake bite should be treated as potentially life-threatening, and immediate medical attention must be sought.
Red Bellied Black Snake. Up to 1.5m. Regarded as being able to deliver a potentially fatal bite to humans.
Swamp Snake. Up to around 50cm. Bites normally result in localised symptoms and are not regarded as dangerous to humans.
Yellow Faced Whip Snake. Around 80cm. The white around the eye is a distinctive characteristic of this species. Venomous, though not regarded as being dangerous to humans. Bites typically result in localised symptoms.
An adult Eastern Brown Snake. This species is responsible for more fatalities in Australia than any other species.
A juvenile Eastern Brown Snake. The distinctive banding will fade as the snake matures as will normally be completely absent in adults.
Golden Crowned Snake. A nocturnal species reaching around 50cm in length. Bites are rare and the venom typically results in localised symptoms.
Brown Tree Snake. An arboreal species with distinctive large eyes. A rear fanged snake that has an impressive threat display. Bites are not regarded as being life threatening and normally result in local symptoms.
Diamond Python. A large slow moving species that lacks venom, though is capable of inflicting a serious bite.
About Chris Williams
Sydney’s Most Experienced Urban Reptile Specialist
Chris Williams has spent more than 35 years working with Australia’s most iconic and dangerous reptiles. As founder of Urban Snake & Reptile Removal, he provides fast, safe and highly professional snake removal across Sydney, backed by decades of field experience and scientific knowledge.
Chris is widely regarded as one of Sydney’s leading authorities on urban reptiles — the snakes, lizards, geckos and turtles that now live alongside us as the city expands. His work focuses on how development shapes wildlife populations and how people can safely coexist with the species that turn up in homes, schools, workplaces and construction sites.
A Career Built on Reptile Expertise
Chris began working with reptiles in 1990 as a WIRES reptile-handling instructor before joining Taronga Zoo’s reptile department, where he worked with cobras, rattlesnakes and Australian elapids, and contributed to conservation programs for threatened species.
He later worked at the Australian Reptile Park and Reptiles Alive!, delivering reptile-education programs across NSW. Since 2014 he has served as President of the Australian Herpetological Society, leading the state’s oldest reptile-focused organisation.
Chris is also the author or co-author of several major reptile books, including Urban Reptiles, Reptiles of the Red Centre and Reptiles of the Greater Sydney Region. These publications have helped cement his position as Sydney’s most knowledgeable urban reptile specialist.
Why Sydney Calls Chris
When people search for snake catcher near me, snake removal Sydney or licensed snake catcher, they want experience. Chris offers:
35+ years of hands-on reptile work
Full accreditation and insurance
Fast, 60-minute Sydney-wide response
Expert species identification
Practical advice on preventing snakes around homes and businesses
Education for schools, daycares, workplaces and community groups
Chris is also the author of:
Reptiles of the Greater Sydney Region,
Reptiles of the Red Centre,
and Urban Reptiles, among many other titles.
Widely regarded as an expert in reptile conservation and management, Chris has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between people and wildlife.
