Studies on the blood of australian elapid snakes—I. Morphology and composition

Abstract 1. 1. Blood was collected from four species of Australian Elapid snakes, Pseudonaja nuchalis, Pseudechis porphyriacus, Notechis scutatus and Austrelaps superbus . 2. 2. Erythrocyte indices, plasma and erythrocyte electrolyte concentrations, and plasma amino acid and protein concentrations were determined. 3. 3. There was considerable variation both within and between species. 4. 4. Despite the geographic isolation of the Australian Elapid snakes, their blood composition and erythrocyte morphology are very similar to those of previously studied snake species from other families.