Common Tiger Snake
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Notechis scutatus or the Common Tiger Snake
The Common Tiger Snake is found in Victoria and southern New South Wales, extending up into south-eastern Queensland. Tiger Snakes are often found in close proximity to water sources. This is because this is where you find one of their favourite foods - frogs. Tiger snakes numbers seem to have declined in recent years. This has been attributed to two reasons. One, Tiger Snakes often mistake poisonous Cane Toads for an edible frog and die after eating a toad. And two, with global frog numbers decreasing, some Tiger Snake populations are finding it hard to find food.
Prior to the development of antivenom, half of all bites from Tiger Snakes proved to be fatal. The venom contains multiple components, some attacking the nervous system, some targeting the blood system, and others attacking muscles.
Even though this group is second only to the Brown Snakes in terms of the number of deaths they've caused, if proper first aid is applied it's extremely unlikely to die from a Tiger Snake bite nowadays.
Did you know...
- Prior to the development of antivenom, half of all bites from Tiger Snakes proved to be fatal.
- The venom contains multiple components, some attacking the nervous system, some targeting the blood system, and others attacking muscles.
- Tiger snakes numbers seem to have declined in recent years. This might be because tiger snakes often mistake poisonous cane toads for an edible frog.
Where in Australia Common Tiger Snake dwells:
