Venom Supplies PTY LTD

Brown Snakes

Common brown snake Pseudonaja textilis

Common brown snakes are found throughout South Australia. Common brown snakes lay eggs. They have been successful colonisers of cleared land.

The venom has a potent coagulant and neurotoxin however humans are mainly affected by the coagulant whereas both affect domestic animals like dogs and cats. Little myotoxic effect has been recorded from this venom. Like most of the brown snake venoms, the procoagulant is difficult to reverse with antivenoms and many vials may be required.

Antivenom: CSL Ltd brown snake antivenom.
Use polyvalent antivenom in the absence of specific Brown Snake antivenom

Dugite Pseudonaja affinis

Currently the brown snakes or Pseudonaja genus is a little arbitrary. There are examples of this genus that don’t quite fit any particular species perfectly. The dugite has been found west of Ceduna and specimens resembling their genetics have been found toward Port Lincoln. Other examples resembling the general appearance of dugites from the Middleback ranges and environs have been found. Dugites are well known from the south-western portion of WA and are responsible for many bites and some deaths in that area. Dugites are somewhat less tolerant than some other brown snakes and will be more likely to retaliate if interfered with. Many of the bites in the Perth area require many vials of brown snake antivenom to reverse the large quantities of clotting compound in the venom. Significant Actions of venom

  1. Clotting. Prothrombin activator. Causes consumption (reduction of fibrinogen) coagulopathy.
  2. Neurotoxins Whilst there are neurotoxins present, there are usually no clinical symptoms experienced.
  3. Cardiac depression. Thought to be a secondary affect from the coagulation disturbances.

Like most of the brown snake venoms, the procoagulant is difficult to reverse with antivenoms and many vials may be required.

Antivenom: CSL Ltd brown snake antivenom.
Use polyvalent antivenom in the absence of specific Brown Snake antivenom

Peninsula brown snake Pseudonaja inframacula

The peninsula brown snake is a fast moving snake, preferring the warmer weather. Many specimens are quite dark to black. Venom yield studies at Venom Supplies Pty Ltd have shown that this species yields, on average, 24 mg of dried venom, which are 6 times the old published accounts of the yields from common brown snakes. Given that a single vial of brown snake antivenom is designed to neutralise 4 mg of common brown snake venom, the effects of a bite from this species are potentially very serious. The venom is the second most toxic of the brown snakes making it the third most toxic in Australia.

We have noticed that specimens of this species tend to grow larger in agricultural regions suggesting the reason is due to prey switching from predominantly lizards in more natural settings to predominantly mice in developed habitats. We have seen large specimens of this species eating sub-adult sleepy lizards.

Actions of venom
There have been no formal studies into the venom action of this species and from comparisons of electrophoretic patterns; the venom appears similar to that of the common brown snake Pseudonaja textilis.

  1. Clotting. Prothrombin activator. Causes consumption (reduction of fibrinogen) coagulopathy.
  2. Neurotoxins: whilst there are probably neurotoxins present, no clinical symptoms have been reported as yet.


Like most of the brown snake venoms, the procoagulant is difficult to reverse with antivenoms and many vials may be required.

Antivenom: CSL Ltd brown snake antivenom.
Use polyvalent antivenom in the absence of specific Brown Snake antivenom

Western Brown Snake Pseudonaja nuchalis

Western brown snakes are very common around Whyalla and further south to the Middleback ranges. Through the Middleback Ranges, the taxonomy of brown snakes becomes unclear and is currently under study by the South Australian Museum. Western Brown snakes are fast moving, sun loving species. They are highly variable in colour and body patterns.

The venom from Western brown snakes, like that of the common brown snake has neurotoxins and a potent blood-clotting factor. The blood-clotting factor is the venom component, which affects humans the most although the neurotoxins will affect pets like dogs and cats causing various degrees of paralysis. The venom yield is higher than for common brown snakes so victims are more likely to require more antivenom to neutralise circulating venom than in common brown snakebites.

Significant actions of venom:

  1. Clotting. Prothrombin activator causes consumption (reduction of fibrinogen) coagulopathy.
  2. Neurotoxins. Although present, they rarely if ever affect humans.
  3. Nephrotoxins. There is one case recorded of suspected renal failure.


Like most of the brown snake venoms, the procoagulant is difficult to reverse with antivenoms and many vials may be required.

Antivenom: CSL Ltd brown snake antivenom.
Use polyvalent antivenom in the absence of specific Brown Snake antivenom.