Australian Rough Scaled Snakes www.toxinology.com

Clarence River Snakes

Genus Tropidechis

This is a brief overview of information on Australian rough scaled snakes, based on information on the main Clinical Toxinology Resources Website. For more detail and up-to-date information on rough scaled snakes, covered at species level, visit www.toxinology.com and search for "snakebite" in the First Aid menu, or search for specific information on rough scaled snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "rough scaled snake" in the common name field or select "Tropidechis" 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 rough scaled snakes

Species listing for rough scaled snakes:

Rough scaled snake, Clarence River snake, Tropidechis carinatus

For more detailed information on rough scaled snakes, including distribution maps and photos, use the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website at www.toxinology.com and search for specific information on rough scaled snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "rough-scaled snake" in the common name field or select "Tropidechis" in the Genus field.

Distribution of rough scaled snakes

Rough scaled snakes are moderately venomous and are found in parts of eastern coastal mainland Australia, but not on southern offshore islands, including Tasmania.

Venom of rough scaled snakes

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

Overall rough scaled snake venom is moderately to highly potent, though less potent than common brown snake venom, tiger snake venom and taipan venom.

Rough scaled snake venom contains potent presynaptic neurotoxins (toxins in venom that cause paralysis or muscle weakness). Also present are postsynaptic neurotoxins, which are less potent but more rapid acting than the presynaptic neurotoxins.

Rough scaled snake venom also contains potent 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).

No renal (kidney) toxins have so far been isolated from rough scaled snake venoms, but renal failure (kidney failure) is a common effect of rough scaled snake snakebites in humans, in cases where there is significant envenoming (envenomation).

Rough scaled snake venom does contain myotoxins that cause myolysis (rhabdomyolysis, muscle damage).

Rough scaled snake venom causes generally minor local effects at the snakebite site, such as mild swelling, bruising and pain and does not contain necrotoxins, though local tissue necrosis can potentially occur.

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

Clinical effects of rough scaled snake bites

Rough scaled snakes have potent venom and can cause severe envenoming (envenomation) of humans. They are an important cause of snakebites in those parts of Australia where they are found. Envenoming (envenomation) can cause defibrination coagulopathy, renal (kidney) damage or renal failure (kidney failure). They can cause neurotoxic paralysis (muscle weakness, respiratory failure), and this is common, but clinical features of flaccid paralysis usually take several hours to become apparent. Bites can also cause myolysis (rhabdomyolysis, muscle damage) which can be very severe.

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

First aid treatment

First aid for rough scaled 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 rough scaled snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "rough-scaled snake" in the common name field or select "Tropidechis" in the Genus field.

Medical treatment of rough scaled snake bite

About 60% of rough scaled snake bites result in significant envenoming, requiring antivenom therapy, and envenoming is often severe and potentially lethal. It is 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 3-4+ vials of CSL rough scaled Snake Antivenom will be required intravenously to reverse the severe coagulopathy (bleeding disorder) and prevent progression of paralysis and muscle damage.

For further overview information, use the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website at www.toxinology.com and search for specific information on rough scaled snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "rough-scaled snake" in the common name field or select "Tropidechis" 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.