Are all snakes in Queensland venomous?
No, not all snakes are venomous. Queensland is home to about 120 species of snakes. About 65 percent of these are venomous. Venom production is a characteristic of two groups of snakes; the front-fanged snakes (elapids) and some of the rear-fanged snakes (colubrids). The elapids consist of 23 species of sea snakes and 51 species of land snakes, including some of the world’s most venomous land snakes such as the taipan, brown snake and king brown snake. Five species of colubrid snakes, including the brown tree snake, produce weak venom delivered through fangs at the back of the mouth. Venom delivery is poor and these snakes do not pose a threat to human life. Five other species of colubrid snakes, including the common tree snake, lack fangs and venom altogether. Ten species of pythons occurring in Queensland completely lack venom and fangs.
