In an engine shop in Victoria, Australia, a female redback spider (Latrodectus hasseltii) attacks a juvenile eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) that had become entangled in her web.

Eastern Brown Snake: “can be aggressive and is responsible for about 60% of snake bite deaths in Australia.”

Redback Spider: “responsible for the large majority of serious spider bites in Australia. Predominantly neurotoxic to vertebrates, its venom gives rise to pain, muscle rigidity, vomiting, and sweating.”

Eastern Brown (Pseudonaja textilis), the world’s second most venomous land snake.

54-year-old Rod Sommerville, bitten by an Eastern Brown in his backyard in Yeppoon last month, responded by first whacking his attacker on the head with a shovel, and then self-medicating with a beer while waiting for the ambulance.

“I said to myself, if I’m going to cark it I’m going to have a beer, so I got a Goldie out of the fridge and drank that; ’cause you know eastern browns are the second most venomous snake in the world,” Rod said.

Australian Morning Bulletin

Rod Sommerville