Black snakes are a genus of Australian elapids. Black snakes have a narrow hood similar to that of the cobra.
The well-known species of black snake are listed below. Of these, the mulga snake was chosen to represent the genus on the table of the main elapid page.
Species | Typical venom | Size | Range | Habitat | Notes | ||
Potency | Type | Typical | Maximum | ||||
red-bellied black snake, P. porphyriacus | mild | neuro 10 | 500 g | 1 kg | Australia's east coast. | Woodlands, forests, and swamps. | One of the most commonly encountered black snakes, since it frequents urban areas. As its name implies, it has a bright red belly. Red bellied black snakes rarely inject a full dose of venom, so their bites are rarely lethal. |
Mulga snake, P. australis | mild | neuro 10 | 1 kg | 3 kg | Throughout Australia except east and south coasts. | Woodlands, hummock grasslands, scrub, and desert. | The largest of the black snakes, although it is actually brown in color. Also known as a king brown snake. |
Spotted mulga snake, P. butleri | mild | neuro 10 | 500 g | 1 kg | Inland Western Australia. | Acacia woodlands, rocky outcrops. | Yellow-brown with dark brown spots. |
Blue-bellied black snake, P. gutattus | mild | neuro 5 necro 10 algesic 10 | 500 g | 1 kg | Inland Queensland and New South Wales. | River floodplains, wetlands, woodlands, dry sclerophyll forest. | Blue-black or brown-black, with dark blue-gray or black belly. Occasionally speckled tan and black (leading to an alternate name - the spotted black snake). |
Collett's black snake, P. collettii | mild | neuro 5 necro 10 algesic 10 | 1 kg | 3 kg | Inland Queensland. | Plains, arid barrens. | Black with irregular red to orange-brown bands. Typically bright red at birth, which fades and darkens with maturity. |
Papuan black snake, P. papuanus | moderate | neuro 10 | 500 g | 1 kg | Western New Guinea. | Savanna | All black in color. |