Tiger Snakes
Common Tiger snake Notechis scutatus
 |
 |
 |
|
Common tiger snake eating a pest mouse |
Common tiger snake color variant from Mt Gambier |
Common tiger snake color variant from Mt Gambier |
 |
 |
 |
|
Common tiger snake color variant from Lake Alexandrina |
Common tiger snake color variant from Lake Alexandrina |
Common tiger snake color variant from Lake Alexandrina |
Tiger snakes are very common throughout the South East but their numbers have been seriously impacted on by swamp drainage and loss of frog numbers. Their numbers have seriously declined over most of their range but the decline is more severe along the River Murray and in the Adelaide Hills. Their prime food is frogs. They are prolific breeders and can quickly re-populate an area if conditions are suitable.
The venom from tiger snakes is extremely neurotoxic, it has a powerful coagulant and it is myotoxic as well. There are many other toxins in this venom some of which enhance the action of the main toxins. The venom is used in neuromuscular research and is important venom for antivenom production. There are other diagnostic uses where the venom is used to detect various blood disorders in humans.
Their young are born live.
Antivenom: CSL Ltd tiger snake antivenom.
Use polyvalent antivenom in the absence of specific Tiger Snake antivenom
Black tiger snake Notechis ater
 |
 |
|
Peninsula tiger snake Notechis ater niger |
A clutch of live born peninsula tiger snakes |
The peninsula tiger snake, Notechis ater niger, is closely related to the common or Eastern tiger snake from the wetter, temperate areas of Australia. Unlike the eastern tiger snake, the black tiger snake lives in drier habitats than common tiger snakes although restricted to areas experiencing coastal rainfall and moisture. The diet of black tiger snakes on Eyre Peninsula and offshore islands is different from common tiger snakes. Adult black tiger snakes feed mainly on bird and local mammal species. On offshore islands they are highly specialised feeding on migratory birds like mutton-birds and petrels. On Kangaroo Island they appear to prefer mammal prey.
The Krefft’s tiger snake Notechis ater ater occurs in remnant wetlands of the southern Flinders Ranges and along the Broughton River. This snake is listed as vulnerable because of its restricted habitat. Like the common tiger snake, Krefft’s tiger snakes feed on frogs and tadpoles. They also take mammals and have been recorded eating black duck ducklings. They are the smallest of the tiger snakes but are heavier bodied than the peninsular tiger snakes from Roxby Island in the Sir Joseph Banks Group in Spencers Gulf.
Their young are born live.
The main actions of venom
The venom is similar to that of the common tiger snake having potent neurotoxins, clotting enzymes and myotoxic components.
Antivenom: CSL Ltd tiger snake antivenom.
Use polyvalent antivenom in the absence of specific Tiger Snake antivenom