Inland taipan
Oxyuranus microlepidotus
Pale fawn to dark brown, usually with a darker head and neck. Its colour can darken in winter and lighten in summer.
Habitat and distribution
Cracking-clay floodplains in the Channel Country of south-western Queensland and north-eastern South Australia, sheltering in soil cracks and burrows.
Safety
Also called the fierce snake or small-scaled snake. Extremely venomous: keep well clear and call 000 for any suspected bite.
Quick facts
- Venom
- Has the most toxic venom of any land snake tested. It is very shy and lives in remote country, so bites are extremely rare.
- Size
- Usually about 1.8 m, occasionally up to 2.5 m.
- Active
- By day, often early in the morning. Spends much of its time in soil cracks and burrows.
- Diet
- Almost entirely small mammals, especially native rats.
Often confused with
- Western brown snake (gwardar) (Pseudonaja mengdeni)
- Mulga snake (king brown) (Pseudechis australis)
- Coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus)
Common questions
Is the inland taipan the most venomous snake in the world?
On standard laboratory tests its venom is the most toxic of any land snake. In practice it is rarely seen and very few people have been bitten.
Where does the inland taipan live?
In the remote black-soil plains of the Channel Country where Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales meet.
Why does the inland taipan change colour?
It is darker in winter and paler in summer, which is thought to help it absorb or reflect heat.
Where it is found
Range shaded by the 18004SNAKE directory team. Listed for 24 towns and suburbs. Ranges are approximate and do not confirm occurrence at a particular address.
Call 1800 4 SNAKE (1800 476 253)
If someone has been bitten, call 000. Never approach or handle a snake to identify it.