Mulga or King Brown Snake Pseudechis australis
What do they look like ? Large , slightly flattened , powerful looking snake with blunt head and reddish eyes . Colour is variable from yellow or brown to black . There is often a criss-cross pattern over the body .
Where do they live ? Mulga Snakes favour dry woodlands within the region and are rare in eastern areas . They probably spend much time underground .
What do they need to live , eat and breed ? Mulga Snakes require mixed ground cover and a variety of food sources . They eat frogs , lizards , other snakes , birds and mammals , using large amounts of powerful venom to subdue prey . They lay their eggs in secluded places such as deep soil cracks and animal burrows .
When might I see ( or hear ) them ? Most active on warm nights . Usually seen crossing roads . Large , fast , brown snakes seen during the day are often other species such as Eastern Brown Snakes or Common Tree Snakes .
What management actions affect this species ? Maintenance of ground cover and diverse , vigorous native pastures and friable soil ensure that Mulga Snakes have a variety of food sources and shelter . Mulga Snakes are more common where Cane Toads do not occur . Though Mulga Snakes will readily kill and eat cane toads , they are usually killed themselves as a result of ingesting the toad ’ s poison . At cattle watering points , careful use and maintenance of water troughs so that deep hoof prints do not form in soft mud may reduce toads ’ chances of access to cool , moist hiding places and improve snakes diet selection ! Persecution by people may be a direct threat to some populations .
How do they benefit the land I manage ? Though often feared by people , Mulga Snakes are very important predators of pest animals , maintaining ecological balance . Since they hunt largely by smell , they can seek out mice and rats in small cracks and under concrete building slabs . Unlike the household cat , they are likely to eat the whole nest of rodents , and not just those that enter the house or shed . While Mulga Snakes can be very dangerous to humans , they are usually shy and avoid confrontations . Snake bites rarely occur when people leave them alone .
Similar species : Eastern , Western and Spotted Brown Snakes ( Pseudonaja spp .).
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