Notechis scutatus (Mainland tiger snake)
Notechis (Latin = southern-snake)
(Tiger snakes)
Notechis scutatus (Mainland tiger snake)
The genus Notechis (Tiger snakes) contains some of the most toxic land snakes. Bites from Notechis species can produce coagulopathy, profound paralysis, rhabdomyolysis and direct nephrotoxic effect producing renal failure, and may require prolonged ventilation. Other symptoms include confusion or disorientation, generalised dulling of sensation, profuse sweating, and the respiratory failure typical to an elapid bite. Localised myonecrosis can be pronounced for an elapid bite.
The venom composition is overwhelmingly toxic phospholipase A2s but prothrombin activating enzymes are present as are short and long-chain neurotoxin that post-synaptically inhibit neurological transmission.
Bites are treated using tiger snake antivenom.
Notechis ater serventyi (Chappell island tiger snake)
| Scientific name | Common name | Translation of scientific name |
| Notechis ater ater | Krefft's tiger snake | black southern snake |
| Notechis ater humphreysi | Tasmanian tiger snake | Humphrey's black-southern snake, after R. Humphreys, naturalis of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia |
| Notechis ater niger | Peninsula tiger snake | black black southern-snake |
| Notechis ater occidentalis | Western tiger snake | Western black southern-snake |
| Notechis ater serventyi | Chappell island tiger snake | Serventy's black southern-snake, after D. L. Serventy, eminent Australian orinthologist |
| Notechis scutatus | Mainland tiger snake | sheiled southern-snake |
Publications
on Notechis
last updated 1-98, next expected update 3-98
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