King brown snakes and Collett's snake

Genus Pseudechis

This is a brief overview of information on Australian mulga snakes, based on information on the main Clinical Toxinology Resources Website. For more detail and up-to-date information on mulga snakes, covered at species level, search for "snakebite" in the First Aid menu, or search for specific information on mulga snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "mulga snake" in the common name field or select "Pseudechis" in the Genus field. The information on this page will not be regularly updated, because regular updated information can be obtained from the main toxinology website, listed above.

Taxonomy of mulga snakes and Collett's snake

Species listing for mulga snakes:

Common mulga snake, Pseudechis australis

Butler's mulga snake, Pseudechis butleri

Collett's snake, Pseudechis colletti

Note that a new proposed taxonomy for these snakes, using the new Genus name Cannia for mulga snakes (Cannia australis and Cannia butleri) and Paracedechis colletti for Collett's snake, is not used here because it is not currently accepted as valid by most professional herpetologists. Similarly, the proposed new species, Pailsus pailsii, is not listed because most authorities still consider it to be a form of mulga snake. For more detailed information on mulga snakes, including distribution maps and photos, use the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website at www.toxinology.com and search for specific information on mulga snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "mulga snake" in the common name field or select "Pseudechis" in the Genus field.

Distribution of mulga snakes

Mulga snakes (also known as king brown snakes) are common throughout most of central, inland and northern Australia, but are absent from Tasmania. Butler's mulga snake is restricted to part of Western Australia. Collett's snake is found in part of inland Queensland.

Venom of mulga snakes

As with other venomous snakes causing snakebite in humans, mulga snakes have complex venoms with many components. Only the most important clinically are mentioned here.

Overall mulga snake venom is highly potent, though less potent than common brown snake venom, tiger snake venom and taipan venom. However, mulga snakes can deliver large amounts of venom when they bite, compensating for the lower venom potency.

Mulga snake venom does not contain potent presynaptic neurotoxins (toxins in venom that cause paralysis or muscle weakness). Postsynaptic neurotoxins, which are less potent but more rapid acting than the presynaptic neurotoxins, may be present.

Mulga snake venom does not contain procoagulants (toxins in venom that interfere with blood clotting, causing consumption of the clotting protein, fibrinogen; this causes defibrination, with non-clottable blood, putting victims at risk of major bleeding), but instead has true anticoagulants, that can inhibit blood clotting.

No renal (kidney) toxins have so far been isolated from mulga snake venoms, but renal failure (kidney failure) can occur following mulga snake snakebites in humans, in cases where there is significant envenoming (envenomation) and usually myolysis.

Mulga snake venom does contain myotoxins that cause myolysis (rhabdomyolysis, muscle damage) amd this is the major clinical effect of bites.

Mulga snake venom causes generally moderate local effects at the snakebite site, such as moderate to severe swelling, bruising and pain and does not contain necrotoxins, though local tissue necrosis does occasionally occur.

For more up-to-date information on mulga snakes use the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website at www.toxinology.com and search for specific information on mulga snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "mulga snake" in the common name field or select "Pseudechis" in the Genus field.

Clinical effects of mulga snake bites

Mulga snakes have highly potent venom and can cause severe envenoming (envenomation) of humans. They are a moderately common cause of snakebites and uncommonly to rarely cause snakebite deaths in Australia at present. Envenoming (envenomation) can cause anticoagulation coagulopathy, renal (kidney) damage or renal failure (kidney failure). They do not cause significant neurotoxic paralysis (muscle weakness, respiratory failure), though rarely they may cause ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelids). Bites can also cause myolysis (rhabdomyolysis, muscle damage) which can be very severe and is the major effect of bites.

For more and up-to-date information on mulga snake bite use the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website at www.toxinology.com and search for specific information on mulga snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "mulga snake" in the common name field or select "Pseudechis" in the Genus field.

First aid treatment

First aid for mulga snake bite is the same as for other snakebites and is based on immobilising the venom at the bite site until medical treatment can be obtained. This snakebite first aid is commonly known as the pressure immobilisation bandage technique for snakebite and other forms of envenoming (envenomation).

For details of the method, use the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website at www.toxinology.com and search for "snakebite" in the First Aid menu, or search for specific information on mulga snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "mulga snake" in the common name field or select "Pseudechis" in the Genus field.

Medical treatment of mulga snake bite

About 50% of mulga snake bites result in significant envenoming, requiring antivenom therapy, and envenoming is often severe and potentially lethal. Deaths from mulga snake bite are uncommon to rare. It is still essential all cases be managed as an emergency, requiring rapid application of first aid and urgent medical assessment. For those cases with systemic envenoming, which may develop in less than 15 minutes after the bite, antivenom therapy is the principle treatment. In most such cases 1+ vial of CSL Black Snake Antivenom will be required intravenously to reverse the severe muscle damage and any anticoagulant coagulopathy.

For further overview information, use the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website at www.toxinology.com and search for specific information on mulga snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "mulga snake" in the common name field or select "Pseudechis" in the genus field. Treatment information and available antivenoms will be listed near the bottom of the page. A general overview of snakebite treatment is also available.

For detailed information on medical treatment on the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website you need to access the subscriber-only area, but substantial information, including appropriate antivenoms and how to use them, (not as detailed as for subscribers) is also available in the online version of the CSL Antivenom Handbook, also available on this site.