Homalopsidae
Australian Bockadam
HarmlessCerberus australis
4 photographs of the Australian Bockadam. © Max Tibby.
The Australian Bockadam (Cerberus australis) is a non-venomous snake in the Homalopsidae family, recorded in 7 countries.
- Family
- Homalopsidae
About the Australian Bockadam
The Australian Bockadam belongs to the Homalopsidae family, mud & water snakes. Aquatic, mud-dwelling snakes with upward-facing eyes and nostrils.
Homalopsids are aquatic and semi-aquatic snakes of muddy waters, with valved nostrils and eyes set high on the head for life at the surface. Many are rear-fanged. They feed on fish, frogs, and crustaceans.
Its genus, Cerberus, covers dog-faced water snakes. Dog-faced water snakes are mud-dwelling Asian and Australasian water snakes that hunt fish in tidal and coastal shallows.
The Australian Bockadam is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check.
It has been recorded across 7 countries, including Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Palau.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Australian Bockadam
- Is the Australian Bockadam venomous?
- No. The Australian Bockadam (Cerberus australis) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Australian Bockadam poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Australian Bockadam is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Australian Bockadam dangerous?
- The Australian Bockadam is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Australian Bockadam live?
- The Australian Bockadam has verified records in 7 countries, including Australia, Indonesia, Singapore. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Homalopsidae snakes
Southeast Asian BockadamCerberus schneiderii
Asian BockadamCerberus rynchops
Puff-faced Water SnakeHomalopsis buccata
Rainbow Mud SnakeEnhydris enhydris
Murphy's Mud SnakeHypsiscopus murphyi
Rice Paddy SnakeHypsiscopus plumbeus
Chinese Water SnakeMyrrophis chinensis- No photoPalau Dog-faced Mud SnakeCerberus dunsoni
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Homalopsidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Cerberus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Cerberus australis
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.