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Project Noah Nature School
Notechis scutatus
The markings are extremely variable and should not be used in isolation to identify snakes. Colours range from jet black, through yellow/orange with grey bands to sandy grey with no bands. There are unconfirmed reports of red-bellied tiger snakes in north-east Tasmania. Typical forms are of a black snake with either no bands or faint yellow to cream bands. Dark olive snakes with yellow bands are fairly common. Generally the belly is pale yellow, white or grey, the enlarged ventral scales often edged with black. The head is broad and blunt. It can be difficult to distinguish the tiger Snake from the copperhead since sizes, habitat preferences and behaviour overlap somewhat. Tiger snakes have 13 - 19 rows of scales around the middle of the body, the usual number being 17. On the mainland of Tasmania, tiger snakes reach a length of 1 to 1.8 m. The Chappell Island population reaches prodigious lengths -- up to 2.1 m. Male tiger snakes reach a greater size than females and have larger heads.
Wide ranging from dry rocky areas, woodlands, to wet marshes and grasslands. Tiger snakes occur in most habitats in Tasmania. They become inactive over winter, retreating into rodent burrows, hollow logs and tree stumps. Groups of as many as 26 juvenile snakes have been found overwintering in the same place. Generally, tiger snakes do not stay in the same place for more than 15 days, males being especially prone to wandering.
These snakes were on display for the purposes of community education, and handled by Reptile Rescue's coordinator, aka "The Snake Man". Tiger snakes are highly venomous, and can be very aggressive (I've been chased by one). But, since the introduction of anti-venom, they haven't caused any human deaths in Tasmania.
Spotted on Mar 17, 2011
Submitted on Sep 17, 2012
7 Comments
Super info and spotting lori - thanks.
That's what these presentations are about, trying to convince the general populace that snakes are not dangerous, so long as we leave them be. This guy travels to all the Country Shows and Fetes, etc. in an effort to de-mystify Tasmania reptiles. Yes, snakes, big blue-tongues, etc., can look frightening, but that's no reason to harm them. People in my area definitely kill snakes. Which is why I was trying to get that Tiger snake (the one that chased me) well of the road before someone intentionally ran it over. Too many people still view Nature as something in conflict with their civilized lives, and strike out from their fear and lack of knowledge.
Could you please come to my place and tell my neighbors??
Snakes have no interest in biting humans, quite the contrary. They will go to great lengths to avoid us, or frighten us with mock strikes, aggressive and colorful displays, hisses, rattles, etc. You really have to be an idiot to get bitten by a snake you can see.
You'd want to hope so!!! I think you'd be mad to handle a tiger snake, even a 'tame' one.
These snakes are handled by someone they trust, and who knows how to read their moods and behaviors. Also, I suspect, they are regularly milked for their venom (which is used to make anti-venom), which would make them less toxic afterward.
Oh WOW, surely it's been de-fanged or something...