Mortal Coil - The Monthly (subscription)

Tiger snakes are found in the temperate areas of southern Australia, including Tasmania where they are particularly large and venomous. Identification of tiger snakes by the presence of stripes is unreliable, since this varies with the seasons and the maturity of the snake and there is an unstriped black species (Notechis ater). Also several other venomous and non-venomous Australian snakes are striped. Features of tiger snake envenomation include neurotoxicity (caused by pre-synaptic and post-synaptic neurotoxins), coagulopathy and rhabdomyolysis.