Mulga snake (king brown)
Pseudechis australis
Heavy bodied and copper to dark brown, often with a netted look to the scales.
Habitat and distribution
Most of inland and northern Australia, from desert to woodland.
Safety
Despite the nickname it is a black snake relative, not a brown snake.
Quick facts
- Venom
- Venomous with a very large venom yield. Bites can cause severe muscle damage and bleeding problems and need urgent hospital care.
- Size
- Usually 1.5 to 2 m, occasionally up to about 2.5 m.
- Active
- By day in mild weather and at night when it is hot.
- Diet
- Lizards, other snakes, frogs, birds and small mammals.
Often confused with
- Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis)
- Western brown snake (gwardar) (Pseudonaja mengdeni)
- Coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus)
Common questions
Is a king brown the same as a mulga snake?
Yes. King brown is a common name for the mulga snake. Despite the name it belongs to the black snake group, not the brown snakes.
Is the mulga snake venomous?
Yes. It produces more venom per bite than almost any other Australian snake. Snakes are venomous rather than poisonous. The risk comes from a bite, so any suspected bite should be treated as an emergency and you should call 000.
Where are mulga snakes found?
Across most of mainland Australia except the far south-east and Tasmania, from deserts to woodland and grassland.
Where it is found
Approximate range based on AROD, adapted to our dot grid. Approximate historical reference range; not a habitat or absence assessment. Listed for 4,039 towns and suburbs. Ranges are approximate and do not confirm occurrence at a particular address.
- Central West, NSW
- Far West and Orana, NSW
- Murray, NSW
- New England and North West, NSW
- Other NSW localities, NSW
- Riverina, NSW
- Darwin, NT
- Northern Territory - Outback, NT
- Cairns, QLD
- Central Queensland, QLD
- Darling Downs - Maranoa, QLD
- Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, QLD
- Other QLD localities, QLD
- Queensland - Outback, QLD
- Townsville, QLD
- Wide Bay, QLD
- Barossa - Yorke - Mid North, SA
- Other SA localities, SA
- South Australia - Outback, SA
- South Australia - South East, SA
- Other VIC localities, VIC
- Bunbury, WA
- Mandurah, WA
- Other WA localities, WA
- Perth - Inner, WA
- Perth - North East, WA
- Perth - North West, WA
- Perth - South East, WA
- Perth - South West, WA
- Western Australia - Outback, WA
- Western Australia - Outback (North), WA
- Western Australia - Outback (South), WA
- Western Australia - Wheat Belt, WA
Call 1800 4 SNAKE (1800 476 253)
If someone has been bitten, call 000. Never approach or handle a snake to identify it.