Eastern Brown Snake

Pseudonaja textilis or Eastern Brown Snake

This is a large, diurnal (active during the day), dangerously venomous snake. We often get carried away with the potency of a snake's venom, but the distribution and temperament of the animal is also an issue. In the last decade the Eastern Brown Snake has become the cause of most snakebite deaths in Australia. This is not because these animals are more aggressive - quite the contrary. When an Eastern Brown Snake is confronted it will lunge at the aggressor out of fear.

The Eastern Brown Snake increased its numbers thanks to man, due primarily to an increase in prey items. Mice and rats are a favourite food, and the increased numbers of these inhabiting rubbish left by humans provide more than enough food for these snakes. They will also happily consume lizards and frogs.

The Eastern Brown Snake is perhaps the most important species of snake from a medical point of view. Textilinin is a derivative of this animal's venom. Textilinin is an inhibitor of plasmin, which is important in dissolving blood clots. Inhibiting plasmin with agents like Textilinin can be used to stop bleeding during major surgery.The Eastern Brown Snake is another snake that is often not true to its name in colour, with shades of brown, grey and black being as common as plain brown. Juveniles can be speckled with orange and are very pretty. Females are egg layers, producing up to 24 eggs.

Did you know...

• The eastern brown snake is a large, diurnal (active during the day), dangerously venomous snake.
• The eastern brown is one snake that has increased its numbers thanks to man, due primarily to an increase in prey items - rats and mice.
• The eastern brown snake is perhaps the most important species of snake from a medical point of view. Textilinin is a derivative of this animal's venom which can be used to stop bleeding during major surgery.
• The eastern brown snake is another snake that is often not true to its name in colour, with shades of brown, grey and black being as common as plain brown.

Distribution of Eastern Brown Snake in Australia:

Juvenile Eastern Brown Snake can be speckled with orange and are very pretty.

Western Brown Snake

Pseudonaja nuchalis or Western Brown Snake

Western brown snake can be found over most of mainland Australia, being noticeably absent from the moister areas of the east, south east and south western Australia. Western Brown Snake shelter in disused mammal burrows and deep soil cracks, and under fallen timber and rocks.During warmer weather these snakes become nocturnal. They feed on small mammals, birds and reptiles, including other snakes.

Western Brown Snake species includes 12 to 16 colour variations, some of which may turn out to be different species. The phylogenetic relationships of the brown snake group are still being investigated. It may turn out that this black-headed form of the western brown snake is actually a separate species.9 to 38 eggs are laid in a clutch from November to January. Once the babies hatch they are completely self-sufficient, and are capable of delivering a dangerously venomous bite to humans.

Did you know...

• During warmer weather Western Brown Snake become nocturnal.
• Western Brown Snake includes 12 to 16 colour variations, some of which may turn out to be different species.
• The phylogenetic relationships of the brown snake group are still being investigated. It may turn out that this blackheaded form of the western brown snake is actually a separate species.
• 9 to 38 eggs are laid in a clutch from November to January. Once the babies hatch they capable of delivering a dangerously venomous bite to humans.

Distribution of Western Brown Snake in Australia:

Western Brown Snake feed on small mammals, birds and reptiles, including other snakes.