Austrelaps (Latin
= Southern-Elaps, after a genus of garter snakes)
(Copperheads)
Austrelaps labialis (Pygmy copperhead)
The strong neurotoxicity of the venom produces effects typical to that seen in other elapids, however, like the tiger snake, there are also disruptions of the blood chemistry through anticoagulants, blood destroying hemotoxins, and also muscle destroying myotoxins. Due to this, circulatory distress may occur. The majority of the damage is due to the high number of toxic phospholipase A2s present in the venom. However, a phospholipase B has been isolated from the venom that is partially responsible for venom induced hemolysis. In addition, a 15 kDa phospholipase A2 has been purified from the venom that has been shown to be inhibitor of human platelet aggregation. The venom toxicity is approximately equal to that of the Spectacled cobra (Naja naja).
Bites are treated with tiger snake antivenom.
Austrelaps superbus (Lowland copperhead)
| Scientific name | Common name | Translation of scientific name |
| Austrelaps labialis | Pygmy copperhead | [notable-]lipped southern-Elaps |
| Austrelaps ramsayi | Highland copperhead | Ramsay's southern-Elaps, after E. P. Ramsay, past curator of the Australian Museum |
| Austrelaps superbus | Lowland copperhead | superb southern-Elaps |