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Inland Taipan
Inland Taipan
Information
Common Name Small Scaled Snake and Fierce Snake
Range Australia
Scientific Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Elapidae
Genus Oxyuranus
Species Oxyuranus Microlepidotus
Conservation Status
LCSpecies
Least Concern

The Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is a species from the Oxyranus genus that in native to Australia. The word "taipan" comes from the name of the Thaypan tribe of Aboriginal Australians or from the Wik-Mungkan word tay-pan.

Taxonomy[]

Description[]

The Inland Tapian has a dark tan, 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 scales having a wide blackish edge. The lowermost lateral scales often have an anterior yellow edge. The eye is of average size with a blackish brown iris and without a noticeable coloured rim around the pupil.

Behaviour[]

Although highly venomous, it is very shy and reclusive, and always prefers to escape from trouble (the word "fierce" from its other name is actually describing its venom but not temperament).

Diet[]

The Inland Taipan consumes mostly eat rats. It kills with a single accurate bite, then retreats while waiting for the prey to die before returning to safely consume its meal.

Lifespan[]

Inland Taipan produce clutches of between one and two dozen eggs. The eggs hatch two months later. The eggs are usually laid in abandoned animal burrows and deep crevices. Reproduction rate depends in part on their diet. If there is not enough food then the snake will reproduce less. Little is know about the lifespan but most snakes live up to 10 years.

Gallery[]

Facts[]

  • It's regarded as the most venomous terrestrial snake in the world, not the amount of venom, but the amount of toxicity.
  • It contains very reactive neurotoxins 50 times more than King Cobra, which can kill 100 men or 250,000 mice with single bite. And venom reactivity rate is also very fast and can kill adult human in about 45 minutes.
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