ABSTRACT
Five families of terrestrial snakes with 36 genera and 136 described species are found in Australia. More than half of Australian snakes are venomous, members of the Elapidae family which includes 22 genera and 80 species. Sea snakes of the family Hydrophoiidae are also found in the western, northern, and eastern shallow coastal waters. Sea snakes are not unique to Australia, and are of little consequence in animal envenomation. Snakebite rarely occurs during the winter months of May through August in the more temperate regions of the country, but snakes are active year-round in the northern tropical regions. Australian snakebite literature is replete with references to snake killer dogs that get bitten. Aggressive dogs may attempt to kill any snake encountered and be bitten in the process. Pets are at the same risk as their owners for exposure to venomous snakes.
