Studies of museum specimens have found oviducal eggs in females from late August to mid-November, and gravid females have been observed basking in the ‘windrows’ of cane fields from August to September. Interestingly, juvenile snakes do not appear to undergo this seasonal change.
Presumably the change helps the snake to warm up quickly during the cooler months (when darker) and avoid overheating in the warmer months (when lighter). In captivity, the species changes colour with the seasons, becoming a bright coppery colour in summer and dull brown in winter. Other behaviours and adaptationsĬoastal Taipans are primarily diurnal, being mostly active in the early to mid-morning period, although they may become nocturnal in hot weather conditions. After a few moments the Taipan tracks down the dying animal by following the scent trail with its flickering tongue. The prey is released and allowed to stagger away - this strategy minimizes the snake’s chance of being harmed in retaliation, particularly by rats which can inflict lethal damage with their long incisors. Once prey is detected the snake ‘freezes’ before hurling itself forward and issuing one to several lightning-fast bites. When hunting, the Taipan appears to actively scan for prey using its well-developed eyesight, and is often seen travelling with its head raised above ground level. Young Taipans, in captivity at least, will also eat skinks. mammals, such as mice, rats, bandicoots, and birds. In the wild, Coastal Taipans are known to feed only on warm-blooded prey, i.e. Ĭoastal Taipans are active throughout the year, however they are most commonly encountered in late winter and spring. The other subspecies, Oxyuranus scutellatus canni, occurs in southern New Guinea.īiomaps map of Taipan specimens in the Australian Museum collection. The Australian subspecies Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus ranges in an arc along the east coast from northeastern New South Wales through Queensland and across the northern parts of the Northern Territory to northern Western Australia. The Coastal Taipan shelters in abandoned animal burrows, hollow logs and in piles of vegetation and litter. Thickets of introduced lantana are also favoured habitat. Habitatįound in warm wetter temperate to tropical coastal regions, in monsoon forest, wet and dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, and in natural and artificial grassy areas including grazing paddocks, disused rubbish tips and cane fields, where there is often an abundance of rats. A huge captive bred Taipan donated to the Queensland Museum had a snout-vent length of 2425mm and a total length of 2900mm. The Coastal Taipan has been reported to grow to over 3 metres, however the largest wild-caught museum specimen reliably measured was a male with a snout-vent length of 2260mm. Midbody scales in 21 or 23 rows, ventrals 220-250, anal scale single, subcaudals divided.Īverage length around 2m (total), with males growing slightly larger than females. Eyes are large, with an intense orange-brown iris and round pupil. The ventral surface is yellowish to cream with scattered orange blotches. Dorsal scales may be slightly keeled, at least on the neck, otherwise smooth. The head is noticeably paler than the body, particularly in juveniles (the head will darken with age however the snout always remains pale). The species undergoes a seasonal change in colour, with individuals becoming darker in winter and fading in summer. Body colour may be yellowish, reddish brown, dark brown or almost black.
IdentificationĪ medium to large snake, with a robust build and a deep, rectangular-shaped head distinct from the slender neck. However, given the chance (and plenty of space), this maligned and misunderstood snake will always prefer a vanishing act over a showdown. Confident in its own splendid lethality, the Coastal Taipan is not one to back away from a close or surprise encounter.
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