Venom Physiology of the Elapid Snakes  of Australia


Common Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus)
Image copyright Shine, 1991. 
 The Elapidae are a family of venomous snakes that are distinguished by proteroglyph dentition, a maxilla that is longer than that of the Viperidae
and nonrotatable, and neurotoxic venom.  They resemble Colubrids, with heads not larger than their necks, long cylindrical bodies and smooth scales (Pough 1998, Greene 1997).  The family Elapidae includes Cobras, Mambas, and New World Coral Snakes, and contains over half of the 
world's venomous snakes (Keegan and MacFarlane, 1963).  The majority of Australian land snakes are in the family 
Elapidae.  In fact, Australia has the greatest diversity of Elapid snakes in the world (Cogger1992; Greene1997), comprising some 75 species and over 1/4 of the world's elapid fauna.  This webpage will focus on aspects of venom physiology in the elapid snakes of Australia.  Click on a link to the left to see information on a particular topic.


Mainland Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus)
Image copyright Shine,1991.

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This page is an assignment for Biology 312, Animal Physiology, and is for educational purposes only.
  email me:  schutchins@davidson.edu