How Many Snake Species Are in Australia? The Count

Australia has roughly 170 snake species when land snakes and sea snakes recorded in its surrounding waters are counted together. The commonly cited breakdown is about 140 terrestrial species and 32 sea snake species, though the exact total depends on how a source defines Australia’s range and classifies species.

Ingredients

Think of these as the ingredients for a careful species count, rather than food: they are the figures and definitions needed to make sense of the answer.

About 140 terrestrial snake species recorded in Australia (approximate count).
About 32 sea snake species recorded in Australian waters (approximate count).
1 clear geographic boundary: mainland and islands, Australian territory, or surrounding waters.
1 consistent counting rule: count recognized species, not individual snakes, populations, or subspecies as separate species.
1 current reference point: a dated national or taxonomic checklist, because scientific names and classifications can change.

Instructions

Start with the short answer. For a general-interest answer, say “about 170 snake species in and around Australia.” The figure is a rounded estimate, not a permanent exact total. It combines the frequently cited estimate of roughly 140 land-dwelling species with around 32 sea snakes in Australian waters. Adding those estimates gives 172, which is usually more honestly expressed as approximately 170 because the source counts and geographic limits may not match perfectly.
Separate land snakes from sea snakes. The land figure refers to snakes that live primarily on land, including species found across mainland Australia and its islands. Sea snakes live in marine environments, and some species range across the waters of several countries. Including them answers a broad question about snakes found in Australia and nearby Australian waters; it does not mean every one of those species occurs on the mainland or is unique to Australia.
Decide what “in Australia” means. It may mean species living on the continent, species recorded anywhere within the country’s political territory, or species occurring in nearby waters. These are not interchangeable definitions. Australia includes islands and marine territory, while many animals’ natural ranges cross national boundaries. A source that counts only land records can therefore report a different total from one that includes marine records.
Check whether a number refers to native or established species. General summaries usually describe Australia’s native snake fauna, but a regional list may also mention an introduced snake or a rare, accidental observation. A sighting alone does not necessarily mean a species has an established population. When comparing two totals, check whether both include the same categories and whether they cover the same places.
Count species, not every named form. A species is a taxonomic unit; it is not the same thing as a subspecies, local population, colour form, or individual animal. Scientists sometimes revise relationships after examining new evidence, and a previously recognized species may be split into two or more species, or grouped with another. Such changes alter a checklist even when no new snake has arrived in the country.
Keep the estimate appropriately rounded. Unless a current checklist gives a precise total with a stated date and scope, avoid presenting 172—or any other single figure—as an exact, timeless answer. The more useful phrasing is “roughly 170,” followed by the approximate land-and-sea breakdown. That makes the scale clear without disguising the uncertainty behind the arithmetic.

Tips

Look for the date and scope alongside the number. A checklist published several years ago may use an earlier classification, while a wildlife page may focus on a state or habitat rather than the whole country. A precise number without a defined boundary can be less informative than a careful estimate.
Do not treat “venomous” as a separate addition to the total. Venom status describes a biological characteristic; it does not create another set of species to add to the land-and-sea count. A snake that is venomous is already included in the relevant species total. Counts of venomous species also depend on the definition used, so they should not be casually substituted for the total number of snakes.
Distinguish “found in Australia” from “found only in Australia.” Some species have ranges extending beyond Australian territory. A national occurrence list and a list of species endemic to Australia answer different questions. If endemism is what you need, seek a source that explicitly says it is counting species restricted to Australia.
Use a local source for a local question. The national estimate will not tell you which snakes are found in a particular town, park, or state. For local distribution, consult the relevant state wildlife authority or museum and use a current identification guide. Do not approach or handle a snake to confirm an identification; contact local wildlife professionals if one is in a place where it may pose a risk.

Serving Suggestions

For a concise answer in conversation, use: “Australia has about 170 snake species in and around the country—roughly 140 terrestrial species and 32 sea snakes, depending on what areas and taxonomic lists are included.” This wording gives the reader a memorable total and explains why another reference might quote a slightly different figure.

For a school assignment or report, make the scope explicit in the same sentence as the number. For example: “A commonly cited estimate for Australia is around 140 land snakes, with about 32 sea snake species recorded in Australian waters; the combined figure is approximately 170.” If the assignment asks specifically for land snakes, do not add the marine figure. If it asks for species endemic to Australia, do not use the combined total without checking which species occur nowhere else.

A map can make the distinction easier to understand: show terrestrial ranges separately from marine records, and label the map’s date and source. A species may be recorded in Australian waters while also occurring in neighboring seas, so a coastal map should not imply that its entire range lies within Australia. For a general audience, the rounded number and one short note about scope are usually enough; a technical report should name its checklist and taxonomic date.

Variations

Land-only version: If “Australia” means the terrestrial fauna, use approximately 140 species as the common broad estimate. State that sea snakes are excluded. This is a useful interpretation for a question about snakes encountered on land, but it should not be presented as a count of every snake species recorded in the country’s wider territory.

Land-and-sea version: If the question includes Australian marine waters, combine the approximate land and sea figures: around 140 terrestrial species plus around 32 sea snake species. The arithmetic points to about 172, but “roughly 170” communicates the estimate more responsibly because the underlying lists may use different boundaries or dates.

Endemic-species version: If the real question is how many species are found only in Australia, use an explicitly endemic-species checklist. Do not assume that all snakes recorded in Australia are endemic. Species’ ranges can extend into other countries and ocean regions, and the answer will depend on current taxonomy as well as the definition of Australia used.

State-or-territory version: For a local count, narrow the question to a named state or territory and use its wildlife or museum records. State totals should not be added together casually: ranges can cross borders, and a species appearing in two state lists is still one species in a national total.

Storage and Reheating

There is no prepared food to refrigerate or reheat in this counting guide. To keep the information useful, save the figure with its source, publication date, and scope—for example, “about 140 terrestrial species and 32 sea snakes in Australian waters; estimate, source checked in 2026.” That note prevents an approximate figure from being mistaken for a permanent official tally.

When reusing the number later, check whether the cited authority has updated its list or whether taxonomic names have changed. A classroom handout or webpage does not need replacing every time a classification is discussed, but it should be reviewed before publication or formal submission. If you cannot verify a newer exact count, retain “roughly 170” and explain the land-and-sea distinction rather than inventing extra precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the answer exactly 172? Not necessarily. Around 140 terrestrial species plus around 32 sea snake species yields 172 arithmetically, but those are approximate counts that may come from lists with different dates or geographic definitions. “About 170” is the safer general answer unless a particular current checklist supplies an exact total and explains its scope.

Does the total include sea snakes? The commonly quoted total of roughly 170 does include them: it brings together an estimate for land snakes and an estimate for sea snakes recorded in Australian waters. A land-only count is lower, at about 140 in widely used summaries. Always check the wording of a source, since some pages report only terrestrial species.

Are all those species found only in Australia? No. “Recorded in Australia” does not mean “endemic to Australia.” Some snakes found in Australian territory or waters also occur elsewhere. An endemic count requires a separate, explicitly defined list of species whose natural ranges are restricted to Australia.

Why do different websites give different totals? They may count different areas, include or exclude sea snakes, use different publication dates, or follow different taxonomic classifications. One list might cover mainland land snakes while another includes islands and marine records. Species can also be split, combined, or renamed as scientific understanding changes.

Does the number count individual snakes? No. It counts kinds of snakes recognized as species, not how many animals live in the wild. The number of individual snakes would be a separate population estimate, and it would vary by species, location, season, and available survey data. A species total cannot tell you how likely you are to encounter a snake.

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