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Coastal Taipan

Coastal taipan is a type of large, extremely poisonous snake native to Australia and New Guinea. It is the largest venomous snake found in Australia. It is the world’s sixth-most venomous land snake. The species is diurnal, but may exhibit nocturnal behavior during hot weather. There are two recognized subspecies of this species.

Scientific Classification
Quick Information

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Subphylum	Vertebrata
Class	Reptilia
Order	Squamata
Suborder	Serpentes
Family	Elapidae
Genus	Oxyuranus
Scientific Name	Oxyuranus scutellatus

Other Names	Common Taipan
Length	1.5 to 2m; largest recorded specimen measures 2.9 m
Weight	Around 3 kg; largest recorded specimen weighs 6.5 kg
Color	Uniform light olive or reddish-brown to dark gray or black; creamy-white to pale light-yellow underside often speckled with pink or orange; color changes with season change – tend to become lighter in summer and darker during winter
Distribution	North-western Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Cape York Peninsula, eastern Queensland, northern New South Wales, New Guinea, Papua New Guinea
Habitat	Monsoon forests, wet and dry sclerophyll forests, woodlands, natural and artificial grassy areas, sugarcane plantations
Diet	Mammals like rats, mice, bandicoots and birds
Predators	Newborns and juveniles are preyed upon by birds of prey and goannas
Venom Fact	Highly toxic – consists mainly of neurotoxin
Breeding Season	July – October
Mode of Reproduction	Oviparous (egg laying)
Clutch Size	3 to 21 eggs
Incubation Period	2 to 3 months
Reproductive Age	Male: Around 16 months of age Female: Around 28 months of age
Average Lifespan	10 to 15 years in captivity
IUCN Conservation Status	Not Assessed