Lowlands Copperhead
Austrelaps superbus
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyElapidae (Elapid Snakes)
- GenusAustrelaps (Australian Copperheads)
- SpeciesAustrelaps superbus (Lowlands Copperhead)
About the Lowlands Copperhead
The lowland copperhead or lowlands copperhead (Austrelaps superbus) is a venomous snake species in the family Elapidae, found in southeastern Australia, including Tasmania. It is commonly referred to as the copperhead, but is not closely related to the American copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix. If provoked, the lowland copperhead is a dangerous snake with neurotoxic venom, which can kill an adult human if correct first aid is not applied promptly.
The lowland copperhead is generally 1-1.5 m (3–5 feet) long. Their colour varies a great deal, from a coppery mid-brown to yellowish, reddish, grey or black. The copper head colouring that gave rise to the common name is not always present. Its venom has been measured at 0.5 mg/kg subcutaneous.
It is found in southeastern Australia, including Tasmania. A. superbus has a preference for areas of low vegetation near water bodies where it hunts for frogs, lizards and snakes, including smaller specimens of its own species. It has been found in sandstone ridgetop woodland in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, where it is becoming rare, due to increasing fires and the spread of urban settlements... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Lowlands Copperhead in Great Otway National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Great Otway National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Freycinet National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Maria Island National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Lowlands Copperhead in Great Otway National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Lowlands Copperhead sighting in Great Otway National Park, based on 47 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Lowlands Copperhead in Great Otway National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Lowlands Copperhead in Great Otway National Park in our monthly data.