10:58 PM 0 Comments

5. Coastal Taipan :

Coastal Taipan

The coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) also recognized as Eastern Taipan is, perhaps, the most deadliest snake of Australia. It is the third most venomous terrestrial snake in the world with the first being Inland Taipan followed by Eastern Brown snake. The bite of this snake is found to be 100% fatal and there are no records the survival of victim if left untreated. Its entire venom can kill 12,000 guinea pigs on a whole!! Its habitat widely stretches along the coast from northern New South Wales, Queensland, Northern territory through to Western Australia. This very reclusive reptile is rarely spotted in the vicinity of humans and is mostly found in forests, heaths, grassy dunes even fond of cane fields. 

 Coastal Taipans are commonly about 1.5-2 meters long and can grow even up to 3 meters with weight upto 3 kg. They are equipped with fangs that grow up to 13 mm long!! Sporting a slender, light to dark brown body with its head being lighter than its body. In fact, in several aspects of morphology, ecology and behavior, it is strongly convergent with Black Mamba. Unlike the most of the snakes, these snakes are diurnal, being active in the early to mid-morning and may become nocturnal in hot weather conditions. They primarily feed on warm-blooded animals which include rodents, bandicoots, lizards, birds and small mammals.

 Coastal Taipan is the largest venomous snake in Australia. Being extremely nervous and alert, they put up a ferocious defense when surprised or cornered. When a threat is detected instead of hurling, it freezes and can inflict lightening multiple strikes. Its venom is extremely fatal and contains potent neurotoxin which is known to damage muscle tissues and prevents clotting. Hence the victim die of bleeding. The venom severely affects the blood and nervous system with symptoms like nausea, convulsions, headache and internal bleeding with the destruction of the kidneys. Death may occur in 30 min in severe cases if untreated as it induces fatal doses of venom. 

Ratings :

Venom toxicity-10

Venom yield-6

Personality-7

Fatality- 3

Deposition - 10

Total score-36

Previous                                                                      Next

Click here for snakes image gallery  

        Page       Intro    1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10