Lyla Lindsey
The Australian brown snake, or Eastern brown snake, is a highly venomous species of snake native to Australia and Southern New Guinea. It is considered the second most venomous land snake in the world, and is responsible for the most lethal snake bites in Australia. The brown snake's fangs are relatively small compared to other species, and victims may not even realise they have been bitten before collapsing and dying.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common name | Eastern brown snake |
| Scientific name | Pseudonaja textilis |
| Genus | Pseudonaja |
| Species name origin | Latin word meaning 'woven fabric' |
| Species name reference | Reticulated (net-like) pattern of dark-tipped scales |
| Average length | 1.5m |
| Maximum length | 2m (7ft) |
| Colour | Pale brown to reddish or black |
| Underside colour | Pale cream-yellow, sometimes with orange or grey splotches |
| Habitat | Excluding rainforest and alpine regions, found in open landscapes such as woodlands, scrublands, and savannah grasslands |
| Prey | Small mammals, birds, reptiles (including other snakes), amphibians |
| Fang size | 2.8mm-4mm |
| Venom yield | 4mg-5mg |
| Venom toxicity | Causes venom-induced consumption coagulopathy, hypotension, collapse, thrombotic microangiopathy, severe haemorrhage, cardiac arrest, nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, abdominal pain, acute kidney injury, seizures, and neurotoxicity |
| Number of deaths in Australia per year | 4-6 |
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What You'll Learn
- The length of an Eastern brown snake's fang is 2.8mm-4mm
- They are considered relatively short compared to non-Australian species
- The fangs are used to grip prey and move it down the throat
- Coastal taipans have the longest fangs of any Australian snake at 13mm
- Fang size is not indicative of a snake's lethal capabilities
The length of an Eastern brown snake's fang is 2.8mm-4mm
The Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis), often referred to as the common brown snake, is a species of venomous snake native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. It is Australia's most dangerous snake, causing the most snakebite fatalities in the country. The Eastern brown snake has relatively short fangs compared to some other non-Australian species such as cobras and vipers. The length of an Eastern brown snake's fang is 2.8mm-4mm.
Eastern brown snakes are highly venomous and will bite repeatedly if provoked, injecting a small but deadly amount of venom—about 4mg, which is more than enough to kill a person. However, they do not deliberately seek out and bite humans as there is no advantage to attacking something much larger than themselves. Defensive bites are often 'dry bites', meaning no venom is injected. The onset of symptoms from an Eastern brown snake bite can be rapid, with a headache developing in 15 minutes and clotting abnormalities within 30 minutes; collapse has been recorded as occurring as little as two minutes after being bitten. Death is usually due to cardiovascular causes such as cardiac arrest or intracranial haemorrhage.
Eastern brown snakes are found in a wide range of habitats, excluding rainforests and alpine regions. They seem to prefer open landscapes such as woodlands, scrublands, and savannah grasslands. They are particularly abundant in rural areas that have been heavily modified for agriculture and are frequently found on the suburban outskirts of many large towns and cities. They are most commonly encountered in spring, followed by autumn and summer/winter.
Eastern brown snakes have a slender build and can grow up to 2 metres (7 feet) in length, with an average length of around 1.5 metres. They are usually pale to dark brown in colour, although they can also be reddish or almost black. They feed on a variety of vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Their diet consists mostly of small mammals, particularly the introduced house mouse.
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They are considered relatively short compared to non-Australian species
The Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis), often referred to as the common brown snake, is a species of extremely venomous snake native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. It is considered Australia's most dangerous snake, causing the most snakebite fatalities in the country.
Eastern brown snakes have relatively short fangs compared to non-Australian species such as cobras and vipers. The fangs of the Eastern brown snake measure between 2.8mm and 4mm, while those of the coastal taipan, the Australian snake with the longest fangs, measure 13mm. Despite their short length, the fangs of the Eastern brown snake are capable of injecting a lethal dose of venom. The venom yield of the Eastern brown snake is typically under 5 mg per milking, and only 4mg is injected with each bite, which is more than enough to kill a person.
The Eastern brown snake is a highly venomous species with a slender build and a small head. It can grow to a length of 2m (7 ft), though the average total length is around 1.5m. The colour of its surface ranges from pale brown to black, while its underside is pale cream-yellow, often with orange or grey splotches. The species is oviparous and feeds on small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Eastern brown snakes are found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, scrublands, and savannah grasslands, but they avoid dense forests and alpine regions. They are particularly abundant in rural areas that have been modified for agriculture and on the outskirts of urban areas, where their main prey, the house mouse, is prevalent. While Eastern brown snakes are dangerous, they do not actively seek out and bite humans. Defensive bites are often ''dry bites'', meaning no venom is injected.
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The fangs are used to grip prey and move it down the throat
The eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis), often referred to as the common brown snake, is a species of venomous snake native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. It is a highly venomous front-fanged snake with short fangs that are typically 2.8mm to 4mm long.
The fangs of the eastern brown snake are primarily used to grip prey and move it down the throat. This process involves the snake gripping the prey with the fangs on alternate sides of the jaw, moving one side of the jaw and then the other along the prey as it passes down the throat. The snake produces large amounts of saliva to lubricate the prey during this process, and its ribs and skin are highly flexible, allowing it to swallow large animals.
Eastern brown snakes have a slender build and can grow up to 2 metres (7 feet) in length, though the largest reliably measured specimen was 6 feet 7 1/4 inches long. They are typically pale to dark brown in colour, but can also be reddish or black, with a pale cream-yellow underside that may have orange or grey splotches.
These snakes are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, and they feed on small mammals, birds, reptiles (including other snakes), amphibians, and reptile eggs. They are known to constrict their prey, coiling around and subduing it before envenomating it. This strategy may be particularly useful when attacking prey with thick scales, such as skinks.
While eastern brown snakes will bite repeatedly if provoked, they inject a small amount of venom—about 4mg—which is enough to kill a person. However, they do not actively seek out and bite humans, as there is no advantage in attacking something much larger than themselves.
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Coastal taipans have the longest fangs of any Australian snake at 13mm
The eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) is a species of venomous snake native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. It has a slender build and can grow up to 2 metres (7 feet) in length. The eastern brown snake is often confused with other members of the Pseudonajagenus, such as the speckled brown snake and the western brown snake. It can be distinguished by its flesh-pink mouth colouration and blotched ventral surface.
While the eastern brown snake is indeed venomous, it has relatively short fangs compared to some non-Australian species such as cobras and vipers. When threatened, it may raise the front of its body and flatten and inflate its neck, similar to a cobra. It will only try to bite humans if it feels threatened, and defensive bites are often 'dry bites' with no venom injected.
The coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus), on the other hand, has the longest fangs of any Australian snake, reaching up to 13mm in length. It is a highly venomous species native to the coastal regions of northern and eastern Australia and the island of New Guinea. The coastal taipan has a robust build and a deep, rectangular-shaped head distinct from its slender neck. Its body colour can vary from yellowish to reddish-brown, dark brown, or even black, with a pale face and snout.
The coastal taipan is known for its aggressive reputation and lightning-fast striking ability. When threatened, it adopts a loose striking stance with its head and forebody raised, inflating and compressing its body laterally. It strikes with extreme accuracy and efficiency, often inflicting multiple bites. Its muscular and lightweight body allows it to hurl itself forward or sideways with great speed. The coastal taipan is considered the second-longest venomous snake in Australia, with an average length of around 2 metres and the longest specimens reaching 2.9 metres.
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Fang size is not indicative of a snake's lethal capabilities
The Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis), often referred to as the common brown snake, is a species of extremely venomous snake native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. They are considered dangerous pests and are responsible for most of the lethal snake bites recorded in Australia.
Brown snakes have relatively short fangs compared to some other non-Australian species such as cobras and vipers. However, fang size is not indicative of a snake's lethal capabilities. The brown snake will bite repeatedly if provoked, injecting a small amount of venom—about 4mg, which is more than enough to kill a person. The onset of symptoms can be rapid, with a headache developing in 15 minutes and clotting abnormalities within 30 minutes; collapse has been recorded as occurring as little as two minutes after being bitten. Death is usually due to cardiovascular causes such as cardiac arrest or intracranial haemorrhage.
The median lethal dose (LD50) is 0.28–0.33 mg per gram of mouse body weight. In case of IV, the LD50 is 0.373 mg/kg, and 0.225 mg/kg in case of IP. The average venom yield per bite is approximately 263 mg (dry weight). The actual yield depends on the species and its efficiency of venom delivery, its behaviour when it encounters humans, and other factors.
While some snakes have short, rigid front fangs, such as those in the elapid family (cobras, taipans, kraits, mambas, and coral snakes), members of the viper family (including rattlesnakes and adders) have more sophisticated fangs. Their fangs are folded back against the roof of the mouth when not in use, allowing them to have longer fangs that can still close their mouths.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian brown snake's fangs are relatively short compared to some other non-Australian species, such as cobras and vipers. The length of their fangs ranges from 2.8mm to 4mm.
Yes, the Australian brown snake is highly venomous and dangerous. It is a member of the elapid family of snakes, which have fixed fangs at the front of the jaw.
The Australian brown snake's bite can cause serious systemic envenoming, including hypotension, collapse, thrombotic microangiopathy, severe haemorrhage, and cardiac arrest. Other common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sweating, and abdominal pain.
Snake bites are quite rare in Australia, with only about four to six deaths recorded per year. This is in contrast to countries like India, which may see up to one million bites and over 50,000 deaths annually.
It is important to treat all snakes, especially venomous ones, with caution. If you encounter an Australian brown snake, do not provoke or corner it. Try to maintain a safe distance and do not attempt to handle or capture the snake. Seek medical attention immediately if you are bitten.
