Boris said:

A new study from the University of Queensland reveals a striking discovery about Australia’s deadly Eastern Brown Snake: its venom differs significantly between northern and southern populations, and both are potentially lethal—but in completely different ways.

Southern snakes produce a taipan-like venom that forms strong, lasting blood clots, whereas northern snakes generate venom that creates fragile clots that collapse almost immediately. Despite these opposing effects, both types of venom can kill, highlighting the complexity and danger of these snakes.

This discovery raises urgent questions about the effectiveness of current antivenoms, which are produced using pooled venoms of unclear geographic origin. If a patient is bitten by a snake whose venom isn’t adequately represented in the antivenom, the treatment may not fully protect them.

Researchers are now reviewing hospital records and testing available antivenoms to determine if regional differences in venom require more tailored treatment—an approach they call “precision toxicology.”

The team also linked venom differences to genetics and diet: southern populations feed more on reptiles, while northern snakes eat more mammals, which may explain the evolution of distinct venom types.

RESEARCH PAPER 📄

Holly Morecroft et al, “X Marks the Clot: Evolutionary and Clinical Implications of Divergences in Procoagulant Australian Elapid Snake Venoms.” Toxins(2025)

Interesting.
X Marks the Clot, I like it.