第 0156 號，共 1 402 號

Northern brown snake

Pseudonaja nuchalis

名字的由來： The name gwardar comes from an Aboriginal language and means "go the long way around", which is advice for anyone who meets one in the wild.1

可能致命不治療的話可能會害死你。如果牠咬了你，要趕快求救。

澳洲的蛇

咬吃：肉

對人的危險: 非常危險如果沒有治療，牠可能會害死一個人。

The northern brown snake is a fast, highly venomous snake found across the north of Australia. It lives in dry country, woodlands and grasslands, and sometimes near towns. It matters because its bite can be deadly, so it is important to know what it looks like and to keep your distance.1

分布在

Across the north of the Australian continent, including the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia1

澳洲與大洋洲

首頁

It prefers drier habitats but is also found in coastal eucalypt forests, woodlands and grasslands. It hides in crevices and under rocks, and in urban areas it can be found under rubbish or tin piles.1

長度

1,8 m (5,9 ft)1

最高速度

大約 7,5 km/h（4,7 mph）

在陸地上, 粗略估計

牠吃什麼？

It preys on small mammals and reptiles, including lizards and mice. It kills its prey with a combination of venom and constriction, which means squeezing the prey in its coils.1

Northern brown snake 的照片 — Northern brown snake。照片：coenobita。 CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist.

怎麼認出牠

Its back can be shades of orange-brown with flecks and bands, or it can be plain.1
Its belly is cream to orange with pink blotches.1
Some individuals have jet black heads.1
Others have a black 'V' shape on the back of the neck, just below the head.1
It grows up to 1.8 m in total length, including the tail.1

常被誤認為： Some northern brown snakes have jet black heads, which can cause them to be confused with the black-headed python.1

毒液力量

咬

咬的時候，毒液會從毒牙或牙齒出來。

牠的毒液有什麼作用？

Its venom contains neurotoxins, which attack the nerves, nephrotoxins, which damage the kidneys, and a procoagulant, which affects blood clotting. Although its venom is not the most toxic in the brown snake genus, each bite can deliver a relatively large amount, so it has a high potential to cause a deadly bite. Human symptoms include headache, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, severe coagulopathy (serious blood clotting problems) and sometimes kidney damage.1

牠對人有多危險？

對人的危險: 非常危險如果沒有治療，牠可能會害死一個人。

The northern brown snake has a high potential to deliver a deadly bite. The bite is usually painless and is difficult to see because the fangs are small, so a bite can go unnoticed. In dogs and cats, paralysis is also likely to occur.1

牠害怕時會做什麼？

It usually prefers to retreat from danger, but it is very aggressive when disturbed or threatened and will defend itself if cornered.1

如果牠咬人

加壓固定法：用彈性繃帶緊緊包住咬傷處，再往上包住整條手臂或腿，用夾板固定，並讓傷者完全不動，直到救援抵達。
不要清洗咬傷處：醫院可以檢驗留在皮膚上的毒液，選出正確的抗毒血清。

一定要先打緊急電話（112、000、911）。這是一般急救指引，不是醫療建議。急救基本知識

注意安全

絕對不要碰、抓或捉弄野生動物，就算是很小的動物，就算牠看起來在睡覺或已經死了也一樣。
給牠空間。如果遇到了，保持冷靜，慢慢往後退，讓牠自己離開。
如果被牠咬了：保持冷靜，保持不動，打緊急電話（112、000、911）或趕快去醫院。記住牠的樣子，有照片會很有幫助。

牠不是想來抓你。牠用毒液來捕捉食物或保護自己，而且牠更想躲起來。更多安全知識

在世界上的哪裡？

非洲亞洲歐洲北美洲南美洲澳洲與大洋洲

牠有多大？

牠有多長？

跟 4 隻家貓從鼻子接到尾巴一樣長跟 10 根香蕉頭尾相接一樣長可以在 48 秒內跑完 100 公尺（最快的人類需要 9.6 秒）

Northern brown snake 跟「你」比起來有多大？

只是在你的瀏覽器裡做算術。什麼都不會儲存，也不會傳送到任何地方。

牠有多快？

一個正在走路的人 大約 5 km/h (3,1 mph)

Northern brown snake 大約 7,5 km/h (4,7 mph)

騎腳踏車的小朋友 大約 12 km/h (7,5 mph)

值得知道

小知識

Although it is generally shy, it has been known to practise cannibalism, though this is not common.1

It can climb small shrubs or trees, although it is not a tree-dwelling species.1

Its name, gwardar, is an Aboriginal word meaning "go the long way around".1

It may become active at night during the warmer months, but it is otherwise active during the day and enjoys sunlight.1

破解迷思

迷思： Snakes like this one always attack people.

真相： The northern brown snake is generally cautious and shy, and it usually retreats rather than attacks. It only defends itself strongly when it is cornered or threatened.1

給毒液專家

學名: Pseudonaja nuchalis
類群: 澳洲的蛇
家人: Elapidae2
排序: Squamata
各大洲: 澳洲與大洋洲
寶寶: The mating season is roughly from September to November, and the female usually produces around 11 to 14 eggs, but may produce up to 38.1
對人的危險: 4 / 5: 非常危險3