Taipan Snake Of Australia

APPEARANCE They range in color from beige to gray and pale brown to dark brown. Some species also change color with the season. They range in length from 5.5 feet to 9.5 feet However it is rare to find 9 foot snakes, most large snakes are between 6 and 8 feet long

THREE DIFFERENT SPECIES Costal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) is the largest and can grow to nearly 10 feet. However most range in size from 6 to 8 feet. Inland Taipan or Western Taipan, also called the “fierce snake” (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is smaller reaching lengths of up to 5.5 feet. Western Desert Taipan (Oxyuranus temporalis) is new species discovered in Relatively little is know about this snake.

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS Most toxic venom of any terrestrial (land) snake Their very powerful venom will kill within hours if no medical treatment is available

DIET Mainly small reptiles and mammals (primarily rodents) and also birds. "Taipan." World Book Student. World Book, Web. 16 Mar

HABITAT COSTAL TAIPAN—found in tropical wet sclerophyll forests to dry sclerophyll forests and open savannah woodlands. It thrives in sugar cane fields and ranges from Northern Australia to parts of Western Australia Taipan/Oxyuranus/scutellatus%20.html animals/reptiles/coastal-taipan/

Habitat continued... WESTERN DESERT TAIPAN— found in Western Australia, Northern Territory Prefers a dry climate ranus/temporalis

HABITAT CONTINUED... INLAND TAIPAN—east- central Australia, very reclusive and seldom come in contact with humans. It prefers a dry arid climate Taipan_Facts

Reproduction COSTAL TAIPAN—Egg laying with up to 5-25 eggs in a clutch. Hatchlings are around 30cm in length at birth. INLAND TAIPAN—can produce two clutches of eggs WESTERN DESERT TAIPAN