Australian Reptiles

Due in part to Australia's geographic isolation from the other parts of the world, the country has developed unique reptile species not found anywhere else on earth. Australian reptiles continued to adapt independently from those in the rest of the world when, about 15 million years ago, Australia's climate became more arid and desert-like. Australia is also the only continent in which venomous snakes outnumber non-venomous snakes. http://www.ritas-outback-guide.com/unique-australian-animals.html

However, there are also some wonderful reptiles indigenous to Australia that are very popular pets. One would be a bearded dragon. Another an Australian water dragon. Blue tongue skinks are native to Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. These are all lizards and all are wonderful to handle, if they are captive bred and used to humans. A carpet python is a beautiful, docile pet snake when raised properly, and it is non-venomous. It is a constrictor and kills its prey with constriction, not venom.

Native to the Australian outback, the Perenti lizard is a monitor lizard. It is the biggest and most aggressive desert lizard in Australia. It can grow in excess of 6 feet. It can outrun a human. It is a predator to the king brown, one of Australia's most deadly snakes. The Parenti is immune to the king brown's venom, and will live to see another day if bitten.

One of the most identifiable of the Australian reptiles is the frilled lizard. Bizarre and almost funny, its defense display is one of the strangest in nature.

1. Taipanhttp://www.ritas-outback-guide.com/australian-snakes.html
2. Fierce Snakehttp://www.ritas-outback-guide.com/australian-snakes.html
3. Death Adderhttp://www.ritas-outback-guide.com/australian-snakes.html
4. Common, King or Eastern Brown Snakehttp://www.ritas-outback-guide.com/australian-snakes.html

First Aid for Snake Bites

There are approximately 3,000 reported snake bites annually of which 200 to 500 require anti-venom treatment, yet only one or two result in death. This is a vast improvement from 1906, when snake bites from the Death Adder and Tiger Snake alone resulted in a death rate of 40-50%. Today, when faced with a snake bite, washing the bite area will remove venom traces that are needed to determine the proper anti-venom. The lymphatic system is the means by which venom is spread throughout the body. Before transporting the bite victim, The Royal Australasian College of Surgery recommends immobilizing the bite area by splinting and bandaging firmly.http://www.usyd.edu.au/anaes/venom/snakebite.html

The salt water crocodile is exclusive to Australia and is the largest reptile in the world.http://australian-animals.net/croc.htm It more closely resembles an alligator because its snout is more rounded.

• Google News: Australian Reptile Search

• Discover Magazine: Global Warming Could Bring Single-Sex Doom to Ancient Reptile (July 2008)

• Blogspot: Common Types Of Bearded Dragons (June 9, 2008)

• LiVEJOURNAL: Frill-Necked Lizard

• <p>Bearded-Dragons.com Community: Bearded-Dragons

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