Red-bellied Black Snake

The Red-bellied Black Snake is one of Sydney’s most recognisable venomous snakes — glossy black with a vivid red or pink belly, and far less dangerous to people than its reputation suggests, with bites rarely proving fatal. They live close to water, favouring creeks, dams, swamps and the damp margins of well-watered bushland right across the Greater Sydney region. Strong swimmers and frog specialists, they are tied to wet habitats in much the same way Tiger Snakes are. Shy and even-tempered by nature, they almost always retreat when given the chance and bite only when cornered or trodden on.