Eastern Brown Snake - Venom

Venom

The eastern brown snake is considered to be the second most venomous terrestrial snake. The venom has a SC LD₅₀ range of 36.5 —53 μg/kg and consists mostly of neurotoxins (pre- & post-synaptic neurotoxins) and blood coagulants. These snakes kept at venom supply laboratories yield an average of 2—10 mg of venom per milking. Engelmann and Obst (1981) give a venom yield of 2 mg (dry weight). As with most venomous snakes, the volume of venom produced is largely dependent on the size of the snake. Worrell (1963) reported a milking of 41.4 mg from a relatively large 2.1 metres (6.9 ft) specimen. This record is atypical, as the eastern brown snake yields a low volume of venom which is reported as not more than 10 mg, averaging only 2 mg (dry weight).

Clinically, the venom of the eastern brown snake is known to cause diarrhea, dizziness, collapse or convulsions, renal failure, paralysis and cardiac arrest. Without medical treatment, bites can be fatal. As this species tends to initiate their defence with non-fatal bites, the untreated mortality rate in most snakebite cases reported is 10—20%, which is not very high.