Facts About Inland Taipan

Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is regarded as one of the most venomous snakes on the surface of the earth. It is native to the arid zones of Australia and is very alert and active. It is for this reason that the animal is also coined as the Small Scaled Snake or Fierce Snake. Very shy and cautious, the snake is known to avoid any kind of trouble and strikes only when it feels threatened. One very unique protective mechanism adopted by the animal is adaption to different environments by changing the outer color of their skin. This seasonal change in color acts like a thermo regulator which enables the animal to absorb light during the colder season. It is this light which gets converted to heat helping the animal to adopt to changing situations. One can actually see this seasonal change in color in the form of a dark brown shade during the summer months and a glossy black shade during the winter season. The taipan has a round-snouted head and this portion is usually darker than the rest of the body. To know more about this unique species of snake, go through the information given below.

Inland Taipan Facts

Binomial Name: O. microlepidotus

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Serpentes

Family: Elapidae

Genus: Oxyuranus

Species: O. microlepidotus

Length: Approx 1.8 meters (5.9 ft)

Diet: rats, birds, mice, lizards and small marsupials.

Range: Australia; particularly in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia

Habitat: arid regions

Number of Offspring: 12 to 20 eggs per clutch

Interesting & Amazing Information On Indian Taipans

The Inland Taipan is regarded as one of the most venomous snakes in the world having the most potent venom of any terrestrial land snake.
The neurotoxins present in the venom of the animal are 50 times more reactive than that of cobra and can kill an adult human being in just about 45 minutes.
It is estimated that the snake can kill up to 250,000 mice with a single bite.
The snake is known to change its color every season.
The population of the species in a particular area depends on its favorite food. It mostly depends on rats and if available in large quantities, its population increases in large numbers.
Usually the Inland Taipan lays eggs in deep dark crevices or abandoned animal burrows.
This breed of snake is rarely known to bite humans although it is one of the longest snakes worldwide.
The taipan is known for its excellent sense of eyesight and smell and is known to strike its prey with quick, rapid movements. After it strikes its prey, it waits for the poison to work. Only after this, does the snake eats its prey.
The dark markings present on the surface of the animal helps it to absorb heat during the winters and to reverse the process during the summers.
This variety of snake is ‘milked’ for their venom by making them inject the venomous substance into a jar through a rubber cover. This venom serves as a major component to save people who are bitten by the snake.

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