Papuan Taipan (Oxyuranus
scutellatus canni)
To see more go to the taipans
page.
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Tiger Snake (Notechis
scutatus)
Mainland tiger snake (Notechis scutatus)
(Photo P.Mirtschin, Venom Supplies)
This snake is distributed along the southeastern
coast of Australia, including Victoria, eastern New South Wales,
part of South Australia and Tasmania. This includes many of
the most populous areas of Australia, and tiger snake bite is
currently one of the most common snake bites in Australia, along
with brown snake bite.
Tiger snakes are active on warm summer evenings, and are attracted
to farms and outer suburban houses, where they hunt mice and
rats, and where they may be trodden on by unwary people barefoot
at night. They prefer swampy or marshy ground, and hunt frogs
around creeks, rivers or dams.
Tiger snakes are solidly built, with broad,
flattened heads. When disturbed, tiger snakes may flatten their
necks in a threat display. They usually strike low to the ground.
Average length is approximately 1m Adults are usually banded,
and colour may vary from pale yellow to almost black. Occasionally,
the bands may be absent, leading to difficulties with identification.
The fangs are usually around 3.5-5mm in length.
Tiger snakes are ovoviviparous (holding the eggs in their abdomen
until they hatch, and giving birth to live young). The average
litter size is around 30.
The venom is produced in large quantities, the average yield
being around 35mg. The record yield was 180mg. Tiger snake venom
contains pre-synaptic and post-synaptic neurotoxins, myotoxins
and procoagulants. Bites result in paralysis, incoagulable blood
and muscle damage, which may lead to renal failure.
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Black Tiger or Kreffts
Snake (Notechis
ater)
Black (Krefft's) tiger snake (Notechis ater)
(Photo Graeme Gow)
Black or island tiger snakes are quite distinct
from mainland tiger snakes. Most live on islands off the south
coast of Australia and Tasmania, although some have a limited
range on the mainland. Black tiger snakes (Notechis ater occidentalis)
are found in the southwest corner of Western Australia, and
Krefft's tiger snakes (Notechis ater ater) live in a small area
of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Peninsula tiger snakes
(Notechis ater niger) are found on the Yorke and Ayre Peninsula
and Kangaroo Island and neighbouring islands. Notechis ater
humphreysi is found on King island and most of the Bass Strait
islands, and the large Notechis ater serventyi is found on Chappell
Island and Badger Island.
Most black tiger snakes prefer marshy areas, and are active
in the day. Island tiger snakes eat mostly mutton birds, and
often use their burrows.
Notechis ater are usually black, with paler
abdomens. Banding is sometimes seen in Western Australian subspecies,
but is uncommon in other subspecies. Size is highly variable.
Chappell island tiger snakes are generally the largest, and
may reach 2.4m. Krefft's tiger snake rarely exceeds 0.9m. Young
black tiger sakes are born alive. Litters vary from 20 to 30.
The Chappell Island tiger snake is the most prolific venom producer
of all the black tiger snakes, with an average venom yield of
74mg, and a maximum recorded yield of 388mg. Victims of envenomation
by this snake should initially be treated with double the usual
dose of antivenom, due to the copious amounts of venom produced.
The toxicity of Chappell Island tiger snakes is less than that
of the mainland tiger snakes, but that of the South Australian
Island tiger snakes is more toxic than those of the mainland,
with a similar average venom yield of 34mg. The components of
the venom are similar to those of the mainland tiger snakes,
causing paralysis, clotting deficits and muscle damage.
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Found in southern and south-eastern areas of
Australia and Tasmania
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Kangaroo Island Tiger Snake (Notechis
ater niger)
The Kangaroo Island Tiger Snake (Notechis ater niger)
can be many colours, pure black with white, grey, red or yellow bellies,
green, grey or yellow banded and many shades of brown from dark to copper.
The large colour variation in Kangaroo Island Tiger
Snakes caused some confusion as to how many species of snakes naturally
occur on Kangaroo Island. Close inspection of voucher specimens at the
South Australian Museum revealed that many animals had been mis-identified.
What had been mistaken for red belly black snakes, brown snakes and
others were all colour variations of one species.
Island Tiger Snakes give live birth. One female was
recorded with 30 young. All colour variations known to occur in Tiger
Snakes can be found in one litter.
Kangaroo Island Tiger Snakes are distinguished from
the island Pigmy Copper Head by the number of scales across the body,
by the pattern of head scales and makings on the lower jaw. The Tiger
Snake has between 17 to 19 mid body scales. The island Pigmy Copper
Head has 15 mid body scales and bar markings on the lower jaw.
The Kangaroo Island Tiger snake is deadly to humans and
therefore if you come across either the copperhead or tiger snakes leave
them alone, its not worth the risk, to your safety to attempt to touch
or pick up these snakes, unless properly trained and licensed accordingly.
this species of tiger snake may be more dangerous then the popular
well known mainland snakes as it appears to have evolved into a more
potent species, little is presently known of the dangers to humans of
the venom.
Kangaroo island is just off the south east coast of
Australia near South Australia
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