HI all,
First off a couple of corections regarding the toxicity of Pseudechis guttatus.
They are not anywhere near the 18th most toxic snake in the world, the test you are quote he information from is incorrect, the study was conducted in the last 70"s by Broad & Sutherland et al and was published in 1979. These toxicity ranks where assigned to Australian species via subcuteanous injections in mice, the venom of 3 exotic species was used to give an idea where Australia's snakes ranks around in the exotic venomous species. The species used where Naja naja (but it may of been Naja kaouthia as this species of Asiatic cobra was not recognised widely until the late 80"s), Ophiophargus hannah and Crotalus adamanteus, this is flawed in some ways as you would be more likely to get an Intramusclar bite from a large Crotalus and venom reserach has shown that the point at where injected has a difference of the toxicity of the bite.
As for Pseudechis guttatus being the most toxic that is plain wrong. Pseudechis papuanus is more toxic also venom toxicity of Pseudechis butleri was not in this list so it is presently unknown in the relation to this study.
the main point that needs to be remembered about these venom toxicity studies is that venom behaves differently with different species along with different injection sites and to quote Brian Bush....."are you a man or a mouse"??? seems very appropriate here.
The realistic danger of either P. guttatus or P. porphyriacus is very real, in 96 i was in some pretty serious trouble from a bite from a immature P. guttatus (2 ampoules of A/v later and I came through, but the rate was i was crashing I am lucky to survive, they where talking about amputation of my finger, I have permant damage to the nerves in that hand , I lost my smell for 7 months and my taste for about 8 these came back gradually but its hard to know if they came back enitirely) I am not the only one either I know of at least one case of friend whom got wacked by an adult...he was in a coma fo 5 days....not just beer and skittles with Pseudechis.
There are 2 old cases of death from the bite of Pseudechis porphyriacus but these are not confirmed or generally accepted however, I treat them (the snakes) with respect that the other more toxic species are given...they may not be as quick, as nasty, as toxic or as unpredicitable as others but I like my digits and hand and I like the idea of my kidneys functioning properly.
Having said the above Pseudechis porphyriacus is (in my opinion) the best starter elapid.....I can't see how people keep recommending Acanthophis????
Cheers,
Scott Eipper
