The Australian Brown Snake

Knowing that you all love photographs, here’s yet another one I nearly forgot to upload. It was taken 3-4 weeks ago, on the road just outside Lock.

As the title says, it’s an Australian Brown Snake (I think), and it is very early in the season to be seeing them out on the road, which is another sign of spring coming in early. This one, as you can see, is a little worse for wear.

The Brown snake is extremely common in Australia, and found all over in different varieties. It is poisonous, and although it rarely results in a fatality, you’re better off avoiding it if possible. As wikipedia says,

“The main effect of the venom is a coagulopathy which can be fatal. Renal damage may also rarely occur.

Other clinical signs include: abdominal pain, breathing and swallowing difficulty, convulsions, ptosis, haemolysis, hypotension from depression of myocardial contractility, renal failure. Notably rhabdomyolysis is not a feature of envenomation by Brown snakes.”

Many people comment on the sheer number of poisonous creatures there are in Australia, and it’s true, there are many. Having said that, the vast majority of the population never have to worry about most of them, because most of these creatures live inland, and nearly everyone of the 20 million or so population, live on the coast. However, the Brown snake is always one to watch out for…

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