![]() ![]() It is most commonly found in the eastern and northern regions of the country. The Coastal taipan is native to Australia, where it can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, and grasslands.Despite their venomous nature, Coastal taipans are generally non-aggressive and will only attack if they feel threatened. ![]() Its venom is highly toxic and can cause serious illness or death if left untreated. The Coastal taipan is one of the most venomous snakes in the world.A Costal Taipan bite was nearly always fatal prior to the introduction of specific antivenom by the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories in 1956. The venom affects the nervous system and the ability of the blood to clot, causing headaches, nausea/vomiting, collapse, convulsions (especially in children), paralysis, internal bleeding, myolysis (muscle tissue destruction), and kidney damage.īecause the onset of serious symptoms is often rapid, anyone suspected of being bitten should seek medical attention immediately, no matter how minor the bite appears. When the Coastal Taipan bites, it injects a large amount of highly toxic venom deep into the flesh, and studies show that they can inject the same amount in a second or third bite. The Taipan’s muscular lightweight body allows it to hurl itself forwards or sideways and reach high off the ground, and the attack is so fast that a person may be bitten several times before realising the snake is present. The snake will always strike, often without warning, inflicting multiple snapping bites with pinpoint accuracy and efficiency. It inflates and compresses its body laterally (rather than dorso-ventrally as many other species do) and may spread the back of its jaws to give its head a broader, lance-shaped appearance. If threatened, the Coastal Taipan strikes with its head and forebody raised in a loose striking stance. The Taipan, like any snake, prefers to avoid conflict and will quietly flee if given the opportunity however, if surprised or cornered, it will ferociously defend itself. They are extremely nervous and alert snakes, and any movement near them will almost certainly result in an attack. The Coastal Taipan is widely regarded as Australia’s most dangerous snake. Their skin is typically a light brown or olive color, with darker markings that help them blend in with their surroundings but body colours vary but at least the head always shows a creamy contrast with the body. According to the Queensland Museum, the longest recorded total length for a coastal taipan was 2.9 m (9.5 ft) and 6.5 kg (14 lb). A specimen with a total length of 2 m (6.6 ft) weighs around 3 kg (6.6 lb). Other taipans, including the inland taipan, grow to roughly similar sizes, though they are slightly smaller on average. Mature specimens can reach heights of 1.5 to 2.0 m. Adults of this species reach sexual maturity at around 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in total length (including tail). After the king brown snake ( Pseudechis australis), the coastal taipan is Australia’s second longest venomous snake. These snakes can grow to be quite large, with some individuals reaching lengths of up to ten feet. One of the most distinctive physical characteristics of the Coastal taipan is its size. The Taipan is distinguished by its pale face and snout, large head, and slender neck (in brown and mulga snakes, the face/snout is usually the same colour as or darker than the body, and the smaller head is as thick as or only slightly distinct, and the smaller head is as thick as or only slightly distinct).
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