eastern tiger snake

reptile species

Also known as: Notechis scutatus

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 18, 2026

Quick Summary

The eastern tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) is an Australian venomous snake belonging to the cobra family, Elapidae. It is the most widely distributed type of tiger snake, found across southern Australia and nearby islands. This snake flattens its head and neck before striking, similar to cobras. Its venom contains both a blood-clotting agent and a nerve paralyzer, making it potentially fatal to humans. Eastern tiger snakes prey on frogs, birds, and mammals, and can grow to lengths of 1 to 1.5 meters (3 to 5 feet). They are live-bearers.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

tiger snake
The eastern tiger snake (N. scutatus) is the most widely distributed form, occurring from Victoria and New South Wales to portions of South and Western Australia. The black tiger snake (N. ater) is mainly limited to arid and rocky regions in South Australia. Tiger snakes eat…
Read More
The eastern tiger snake (N. scutatus) is the most widely distributed form, occurring from Victoria and New South Wales to portions of South and Western Australia. The black tiger snake (N. ater) is mainly limited to arid and rocky regions in South Australia. Tiger snakes eat…
Read More