Classmate gives school students the lowdown on Australian snakes
ALTHOUGH the dangerous varieties seem to get most of the attention, most snakes are quite benign creatures.
Of the 2900 known species of snakes only about 300 are venomous and most snakes would rather avoid human contact than confront us.
Australia has some of the world’s most deadly snakes but also some of the most fascinating.
SNAKE BITE
Up to 3000 Australians are bitten by snakes each year, with 200 to 500 treated with antivenene, although one or two bites will prove fatal. About half the deaths are caused by bites from the brown snake, with the rest usually caused by tiger snakes, taipans and death adders. Although some deaths are sudden, it is uncommon to die within four hours of a snake bite. Snake venom can severely injure or kill by causing coagulation disturbances, neurotoxicity and paralysis.
ALTHOUGH the dangerous varieties seem to get most of the attention, most snakes are quite benign creatures.
Of the 2900 known species of snakes only about 300 are venomous and most snakes would rather avoid human contact than confront us.
Australia has some of the world’s most deadly snakes but also some of the most fascinating.
SNAKE BITE
Up to 3000 Australians are bitten by snakes each year, with 200 to 500 treated with antivenene, although one or two bites will prove fatal. About half the deaths are caused by bites from the brown snake, with the rest usually caused by tiger snakes, taipans and death adders. Although some deaths are sudden, it is uncommon to die within four hours of a snake bite. Snake venom can severely injure or kill by causing coagulation disturbances, neurotoxicity and paralysis.
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