Thread: What Snake Is This

Looks like a tiger to me. The best way to identify is by the shape of the head and any markings / colouration around the head. Tigers vary dramatically in colours and markings which is why you look at the head if unsure. As said it is possible it is some sort of brown too. Will have to look at my book when I get home.
The colouration of a tiger can vary from blac/blue through to brown with or without stripes. The head is very distinct from the body in shape. The belly can vary from pale yellow right through to red (hence why a lot of people including myself thought they have seen red bellied blacks in WA, where they dont live). Have also had someone swear we get yellow bellied black in WA (snake does not exist).

Tiger Snakes

The Tiger snake is a venomous species that is located in Australia, primarily in the southern areas. It is also found in Tasmania and the coastal islands of Australia. The Tiger snake comes in a variety of colors, depending on their region of location. They are all classified under the genus Notechis as well as further subdivisions of Notechis.

The Tiger snake is part of the family Elapidae and is restricted primarily to tropical regions near Australia. This species is a large group of various populations with much differences in color and size. There are also color variations according to the season.The Tiger snake can be up to 7 ft (2.1 meters) in length. Its pattern consists of darker bands that contrast or are indistinct and are anywhere from pale to dark in color. Colors include yellow, olive, jet back, or orange brown. Usually, the underside of the snake is lighter in color and orange or yellow. The Tiger snake makes use of its venom to kill its prey and if it feels threatened, it will bite an aggressor, usually as a last resort. If a human is bit by a Tiger snake, it can be fatal potentially. This species of snake can tolerate low temperatures although ti is usually more active on nights that are warmer.

Tiger snakes do not lay eggs. They give birth to live young, usually between 12 - 40. This species is not usually aggressive and will usually try to get away when danger ensues. If they are threaten, they will flatten out their neck and raise their body off the ground in a threatening and intimidating manner.

Depending on where the Tiger Snake lives, there is a wide disparity of characteristics in this species. These snakes are also classified according to the island or region where they live. If you are trying to identify the Tiger snake, you should remember that the color is not a very reliable method of identifying them. That is because there is a large number of acceptable colors for this species. The best way to identify the Tiger snake is with a scale count or venom test kit.

With respect to the other posters, if Crump says it is a Common Tiger (or what ever), that is the clincher for me.

Browns have a smaller head don't they?
Red bellies also flatten neck a lot, and I've seen one raise it in captivity.
Not sure why, but I always grab em on the tail, always let go straight away, as they go spastic. Not sure how they pick them up, I think I'd use a forked stick for that.
The last brown I grabbbed, that was fairley long, went under my car, I ran around to see where it went, but couldn't find it out the other side, I feared my Disco or working under it for months after that.
At least I think it's a brown(brindabella MTNs near canberra).

thats an Eastern Brown.As for tail grabbing(if you dont know what it is and what your doing, leave them alone) as the weight of the animal "takes up" you can actually feel the vertabrae connective tissue or whatever seperating or stretching, I doubt they find this pleasant.In certain species hatchlings you can actually do permanent damage by simply unravelling them from a branch.