October 1, 2014:

Two red-belly black snakes have been caught on camera in a spring territorial dispute that makes the Bunnies and Bulldogs battle look like ... a game.

As the weather hots up, male red bellies start challenging and defending their try lines, as a Bay Post/Moruya Examiner reader discovered near his clothes line, north-west of Batemans Bay.

Red bellies are normally shy, placid and will only bite a human if disturbed - but they will defend their territories aggressively against the highly venomous brown snake and - when the big match is on - another male.

The Australian Museum's collections manager Ross Sadlier said the footage showed "classic, male-on-male combat for red bellies".