EASTERN BROWN SNAKE Pseudonaja spp.

The world’s second most venomous land snake, with an LD rating of 0.053, brown 50 snakes (now considered to be nine closely related species) have caused more than 21 deaths since 2000 – more than one a year. A bite delivers 2–6mg of venom and can cause cardiac arrest, but more often leads to uncontrolled bleeding, with symptoms seen within 15 minutes. Found in highly populated areas throughout eastern Australia, it’s commonly encountered.