Information AboutDeath Adder |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT DEATH ADDER | |
| american pit vipers by common name | |
The death adders are a group of three or five Species of Snake s native to the Australia n Continent . They are some of the most poisonous snakes in the world. APPEARANCE Death adders are very Viper like in appearance, having Triangular shaped Head s and Subocular Scale s. They also have vertical Pupils and many small scales on the top of the head. Like vipers, they have short, fat bodies (normally 50 – 90 cm (20 – 36 inches) long). Their fangs are also longer and more mobile than other elapids, although still far from the true vipers. Despite their name and appearance, they are not vipers at all but Elapid s (like all Australian venomous snakes). This is a case of Convergent Evolution . It normally takes 2 – 3 Year s to reach adult size. Females are generally slightly larger than the males. They can also be easily distinguished from other Australian snakes because of a short spine protruding from their Tail s. Most have large bands around their bodies, though the Color itself is variable. Colors are usually grey or red, but also include brown, greenish-grey, or yellow. HABITS AND HUNTING PROPERTIES OF VENOM Death adders inject 70 – 100 mg of extremely Toxic venom (0.4 – 0.5 mg/kg Murine LD50 , subcutaneous) with a bite. This makes an untreated death adder bite one of the most dangerous in the world. Death adder venom is Neurotoxic . It blocks the post- Synaptic Neuromuscular transmission from the Acetylcholine Receptor . Unlike other snakes of its type, it does not contain either Procoagulant s or Myolysin s, making treatment easier. A bite from a death adder causes Paralysis . While this paralysis is very minor at first, it can cause death from a complete Respiratory shutdown in as little as six hours. Symptoms peak in 24 – 48 hours. Symptoms of Envenomation can be reversed through the use of death adder Antivenom , or using Anticholinesterases , which break the synaptic Blockade by making Acetylcholine more available to the Brain . Before antivenom was introduced, 50% of death adder bites were fatal. Now, with the antivenom, and due to the slow progression of envenomation symptoms, Fatalities from death adder bites are very rare. TAXONOMY Although the death adder appears to be a viper, of the Viperidae family, it is really a member of the Elapidae family, being more closely related to Cobra s, Mamba s, and Coral Snake s. Three major Species of death adders ( Genus ''Acanthophis'') are now accepted in the Scientific Community :
In addition, the status of at least two other species is currently being debated:
The word "Acanthophis" means "Spine snake", referring to the spine on the Death adder's tail. REFERENCES
|
|
|