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![Simoselaps bertholdi ( Desert Banded Snake ) [ Original photo copyright © Dr Julian White ]](images/snakes/SNP06431.jpg)
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Family: Elapidae
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Subfamily: Elapinae
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Genus: Simoselaps
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Species: bertholdi
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Common Names
Desert Banded Snake , Southern Desert Banded Snake , Jan's Banded Snake
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Region
Australia
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Countries
Australia
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Taxonomy and Biology
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Adult Length: 0.20 m
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General Shape
Very small in length, cylindrical, medium bodied burrowing snake with a very short tail. Can grow to a maximum of about 0.33 metres. Head is medium in size, no canthus rostralis and indistinct from neck. Snout is depressed, angular in profile ( but not tipped with cutting edge ) and rounded when viewed from above. Eyes are small in size with vertically elliptical pupils. Dorsal scales are smooth and glossy. Dorsal scale count 17 (16 ) - 15 - 13 ( 11 to 14 ).
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Habitat
Inland sandy desert and scrub plains of red sandy loams in mallee, myall and mulga woodland and shrublands ( including coastal heaths ).
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Habits
Nocturnal, secretive and fossorial, snake. Active on the surface only at night. Shelters in loose sandy humified soil under shrubs, trees and fallen timber. Head is often protruded above the surface ( snout is well camouflaged ) to ambush prey. Very shy snake which attempts to flee for cover if disturbed.
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Prey
Only known to feed on small skinks ( Lerista, Ctenotus, Menetia and Morethia species ) and legless lizards ( Aprasia genus ).
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Venom
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General: Venom Neurotoxins
Unknown
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General: Venom Myotoxins
Unknown
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General: Venom Procoagulants
Unknown
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General: Venom Anticoagulants
Unknown
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General: Venom Haemorrhagins
Unknown
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General: Venom Nephrotoxins
Unknown
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General: Venom Cardiotoxins
Unknown
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General: Venom Necrotoxins
Unknown
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General: Venom Other
Unknown
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Clinical Effects
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General: Dangerousness
Unknown, but unlikely to cause significant envenoming, most unlikely to be dangerous.
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General: Rate of Envenoming: Unknown but likely to be low
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General: Untreated Lethality Rate: Unlikely to prove lethal
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General: Local Effects
Insufficient clinical reports to know
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General: Local Necrosis
Insufficient clinical reports to know
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General: General Systemic Effects
Insufficient clinical reports to know
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General: Neurotoxic Paralysis
Unlikely to occur
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General: Myotoxicity
Not likely to occur
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General: Coagulopathy & Haemorrhages
Unlikely to occur
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General: Renal Damage
Unlikely to occur
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General: Cardiotoxicity
Unlikely to occur
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General: Other
Not likely to occur
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First Aid
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Description: First aid for bites by Elapid snakes which do not cause significant injury at the bite site (see Comments for partial listing), but which may have the potential to cause significant general (systemic) effects, such as paralysis, muscle damage, or bleeding.
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Details
1. After ensuring the patient and onlookers have moved out of range of further strikes by the snake, the bitten person should be reassured and persuaded to lie down and remain still. Many will be terrified, fearing sudden death and, in this mood, they may behave irrationally or even hysterically. The basis for reassurance is the fact that many venomous bites do not result in envenoming, the relatively slow progression to severe envenoming (hours following elapid bites, days following viper bites) and the effectiveness of modern medical treatment.
2. The bite wound should not be tampered with in any way. Wiping it once with a damp cloth to remove surface venom is unlikely to do much harm (or good) but the wound must not be massaged. For Australian snakes only, do not wash or clean the wound in any way, as this may interfere with later venom detection once in a hospital.
3. All rings or other jewellery on the bitten limb, especially on fingers, should be removed, as they may act as tourniquets if oedema develops.
4. If the bite is on a limb, a broad bandage (even torn strips of clothing or pantyhose) should be applied over the bitten area at moderate pressure (as for a sprain; not so tight circulation is impaired), then extended to cover as much of the bitten limb as possible, including fingers or toes, going over the top of clothing rather than risking excessive limb movement by removing clothing. The bitten limb should then be immobilised as effectively as possible using an extemporised splint or sling.
5. If there is any impairment of vital functions, such as problems with respiration, airway, circulation, heart function, these must be supported as a priority. In particular, for bites causing flaccid paralysis, including respiratory paralysis, both airway and respiration may be impaired, requiring urgent and prolonged treatment, which may include the mouth to mask (mouth to mouth) technique of expired air transfer. Seek urgent medical attention.
6. Do not use Tourniquets, cut, suck or scarify the wound or apply chemicals or electric shock.
7. Avoid peroral intake, absolutely no alcohol. No sedatives outside hospital. If there will be considerable delay before reaching medical aid, measured in several hours to days, then give clear fluids by mouth to prevent dehydration.
8. If the offending snake has been killed it should be brought with the patient for identification (only relevant in areas where there are more than one naturally occurring venomous snake species), but be careful to avoid touching the head, as even a dead snake can envenom. No attempt should be made to pursue the snake into the undergrowth as this will risk further bites.
9. The snakebite victim should be transported as quickly and as passively as possible to the nearest place where they can be seen by a medically-trained person (health station, dispensary, clinic or hospital). The bitten limb must not be exercised as muscular contraction will promote systemic absorption of venom. If no motor vehicle or boat is available, the patient can be carried on a stretcher or hurdle, on the pillion or crossbar of a bicycle or on someone's back.
10. Most traditional, and many of the more recently fashionable, first aid measures are useless and potentially dangerous. These include local cauterization, incision, excision, amputation, suction by mouth, vacuum pump or syringe, combined incision and suction ("venom-ex" apparatus), injection or instillation of compounds such as potassium permanganate, phenol (carbolic soap) and trypsin, application of electric shocks or ice (cryotherapy), use of traditional herbal, folk and other remedies including the ingestion of emetic plant products and parts of the snake, multiple incisions, tattooing and so on.
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Treatment
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Treatment Summary
Bites by Simoselaps species are minor, not requiring treatment, other than ensuring tetanus immunisation.
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Key Diagnostic Features
No significant local or systemic effects
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General Approach to Management
Most cases will be minor & not require admission.
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Antivenom Therapy
No antivenom available
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