Inland Taipan
| Inland Taipan | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||||||||||||||
| Conservation status | ||||||||||||||||
|
Not evaluated
|
||||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||
| Oxyuranus microlepidotus |
||||||||||||||||
 Range of Inland Taipan (in red)
|
The Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus), also known as the Small Scaled Snake and Fierce Snake , it
is a highly venomous snake that lives in Australia,
notorious for having the most potent
Venom
A single bite from the Inland Taipan contains enough venom to kill as many as 100 human adults, or 250,000 mice. The average
venom yield is 44 mg, with a 110-mg record yield. It is 50 times more venomous than the Indian
Cobra and 650 - 850 times more venomous than a
Appearance
The Inland Taipan is dark tan in color, ranging from a rich, dark hue to a brownish olive-green (depending on season). Its back, sides and tail may be different shades of brown and grey, with many individual scales having a wide blackish edge. These dark-marked scales occur in diagonal rows so that the marks align to form broken chevrons of variable length that are inclined backward and downward. The lowermost lateral scales often have an anterior yellow edge. The dorsal scales are smooth and without keels. The round-Snouted head and neck are usually noticeably darker than the body (glossy black in winter, dark brown in summer). The snake's color changes seasonally. The eye is of average size with a blackish brown iris and without a noticeable coloured rim around the pupil. It has twenty-three rows of mid-body scales, between fifty-five and seventy divided subcaudal scales, and one anal scale. The Inland Taipan averages approximately two metres (about 6.6 feet) in length, although larger specimens have been found.
Seasonal Adaptation
Inland Taipan adapt to their environment by changing the colour of the skin during seasonal changes. Inland Taipan tend to be lighter in summer and darker in winter. This seasonal colour change serves in thermoregulation, allowing the snake to absorb more light (thence converted to heat) in the colder months.
Range
The Inland Taipan is native to the arid regions of central Australia, extending from the southeast part of the Northern Territory, and into west Queensland. The Inland Taipan can also be found north of Lake Eyre and to the west of the split of the Murray River, Darling River and Murrumbidgee River.
Behaviour
Inland Taipan are known to live in holes, and feed on small rodents such as mice and rats. Despite its name, Inland Taipan are not known to be particularly aggressive, but docile. They will strike if provoked, however, injecting their incomparably toxic venom.
Diet
The Inland Taipan consumes small rodents, mainly rats. They kill their prey by attacking in quick, rapid strikes injecting highly toxic venom into their victim.
Reproduction
Inland Taipan produce clutches of between one and two dozen eggs (12–24). The eggs hatch approximately two months after laying. The eggs are usually laid in abandoned animal burrows and deep crevices. Their reproduction rate also depends on their diet. If there are not enough rats then the snake will reproduce less.
Trivia
- Although known as the most venomous land snake in the world, there have been no documented human fatalities from the Inland Taipan. All known bites have been treated using antivenom.
- Steve Irwin, the "The Crocodile Hunter" once presented a TV program listing the world's 10 deadliest snakes, of which the Inland Taipan came in at number 1. During the program, he was seen lying down outside a hole of a Inland Taipan, which came out and flicked Irwin with its tongue and afterwards slithering away, causing no harm to the biologist.
Notes
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
