Date: May 16, 2017
Source: University of Queensland
The "blood nuking"
capabilities of adult brown snake venom only come about after an amazing
transformation.
New research led by University of
Queensland scientist Associate Professor Bryan Fry has shown the venom of young
brown snakes attacks the nervous system, while the venom of older snakes has
dangerous effects on the circulatory system.
"This is because young brown
snakes specialise in lizards, then specialise in mammals as adults," Dr
Fry said.
"Young brown snakes may
produce clinical symptoms like that of a death adder, as they seek out and
paralyse sleeping lizards.
"Once older, their venom
contains toxins that cause devastating interference with blood clotting,
causing rodent prey to become immobilised by stroke.
"Although the venom is
diluted in the much larger blood volume of a human and do not cause stroke,
bite victims can still die from internal bleeding."
Dr Fry, of the UQ School of
Biological Sciences' Venom Evolution Laboratory said brown snakes were highly
venomous and were found in mainland Australia, with the eastern brown snakes
also found in New Guinea.
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