A large and diverse Family of exclusively venomous snakes, covering all continents
(except Antarctica) and several major oceans, these snakes have well developed
fangs towards the front of the mouth, which can deliver often highly potent
venom, produced in paired venom glands.
FIGURE: Diagramatic representation of a "typical"
Elapid snake head, showing the anteriorly placed fangs, in most species capable
of little or no rotational movement (ie permanently "erect").
FIGURE: Approximate global distribution of Elapid snakes, including
sea snakes.
The archtypical Elapid snake is the Indian cobra, but the typical cobra hood
is only present in a few Elapids. Some smaller species are unable or unlikely
to successfully envenom humans, but essentially all the larger species are capable
of causing envenoming and many are potentially lethal. Elapids are a major cause
of snakebite morbidity and mortality globally.
TABLE: Major groups of Elapid snakes and their principal clinical effects.
Scientific name
Common name
Effect
Acanthophis spp.
Australian death adders
Neurotoxic paralysis
Austrelaps spp.
Australian copperheads
Neurotoxic paralysis
Aspidelaps spp.
African coral snakes
Neurotoxic paralysis
Bungarus spp.
Asian kraits
Neurotoxic paralysis
Boulengeria spp.
African water cobras
Neurotoxic paralysis
Calliophis spp.
Asian coral snakes
Neurotoxic paralysis
Dendroaspis spp.
African mambas
Neurotoxic paralysis & fasciculation
Elapsoidea spp.
African garter snakes
Local effects only
Hemachatus haemachatus
African rinkhals spitting cobra
Local tissue injury, paralysis
Hoplocephalus spp.
Australian broad headed snakes
Coagulopathy & haemorrhage
Maticora spp.
Asian coral snakes
Neurotoxic paralysis
Micropechis ikaheka
New Guinea small eyed snake
Paralysis, coagulopathy, myolysis
Micrurus spp.
American coral snakes
Depending on species, paralysis and/or myolysis
Micruroides euryxanthus
Arizona coral snake
Neurotoxic paralysis (rarely severe)
Naja spp.
African & Asian cobras
Depending on species severe local tissue injury and/or paralysis
Notechis spp.
Australian tiger snakes
Paralysis, coagulopathy, myolysis, renal damage
Ophiophagus hannah
Asian king cobra
Paralysis, local tissue injury
Oxyuranus spp.
Australian taipans
Paralysis, coagulopathy, myolysis, renal damage
Paranaja multifasciata
African burrowing cobra
Local effects only
Pseudechis spp.
Australian mulga & black snakes
Depending on species, myolysis, coagulopathy (anticoagulant), renal damage
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