Echiopsis curta
Echiopsis curta  ( Bardick )  [ Original photo copyright © Dr Julian White ]
Family: Elapidae
Subfamily: Elapinae
Genus: Echiopsis
Species: curta
Common Names
Bardick , Desert Snake
Region
Australia
Countries
Australia
 
Taxonomy and Biology
Adult Length: 0.40 m
General Shape
Small in length, moderately stout bodied snake with a very short tail. Can grow to a maximum of about 0.71 metres. Head is short, broad and distinct from neck. Eyes are moderately large in size with vertically subelliptical pupils. Dorsal scales are smooth and matt-like in appearance. Ventrals are rounded.
Habitat
Temperate plains and coastal fixed dunes with sandy and loamy soils in coastal heath, mallee woodland with heath and hummock grass understorey. A significant proportion of its known range coincides with pasture and cropping pursuits.
Habits
Nocturnal and terrestrial snake. Shelters during the day in or under logs, under rocks, in leaf litter or under dense shrub vegetation. Mild disposition, tends to flatten itself when basking or when disturbed. If provoked it will strike and has a reputation of being pugnacious.
Prey
Feed mainly on lizards ( skinks, geckos and agamids ) and frogs but will also eat small mammals ( particularly mice ), birds and insects.
Species Map
Small (Approx 20k) version
 
Venom
General: Venom Neurotoxins
Possibly present
General: Venom Myotoxins
Unknown
General: Venom Procoagulants
Probably not present
General: Venom Anticoagulants
Possibly present
General: Venom Haemorrhagins
Unknown
General: Venom Nephrotoxins
Unknown
General: Venom Cardiotoxins
Unknown
General: Venom Necrotoxins
Unknown
General: Venom Other
Unknown
 
Clinical Effects
General: Dangerousness
Unknown, but potentially lethal envenoming, though unlikely, cannot be excluded.
General: Rate of Envenoming: Unknown but likely to be low
General: Untreated Lethality Rate: Unknown but lethal potential cannot be excluded
General: Local Effects
Local pain & swelling
General: Local Necrosis
Not likely to occur
General: General Systemic Effects
Insufficient clinical reports to know
General: Neurotoxic Paralysis
Insufficient clinical reports to know, but might occur.
General: Myotoxicity
Insufficient clinical reports to know
General: Coagulopathy & Haemorrhages
Insufficient clinical reports to know
General: Renal Damage
Insufficient clinical reports to know
General: Cardiotoxicity
Insufficient clinical reports to know
General: Other
Insufficient clinical reports to know
 
First Aid
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.
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.
 
Treatment
Treatment Summary
Bites are likely to be minor, but major envenoming cannot be excluded, so assess all cases fully. If major envenoming (most likely paralysis) develops, consider using CSL Death Adder or Polyvalent AV.
Key Diagnostic Features
Minimal to mild local reaction ± flaccid paralysis
General Approach to Management
It is possible that most cases will be minor, but some cases may be more severe, requiring admission and treatment, so assess carefully before discharge.
Antivenom Therapy
Only antivenoms available are for related species, but should be used for significant envenoming
Antivenoms
No Antivenoms
 
Images
Echiopsis curta ( Bardick ) [ Original photo copyright © Dr Julian White ] Echiopsis curta ( Bardick ) [ Original photo copyright © Dr Julian White ]