Common death adder

Appearance

Common death adders have broad flattened, triangular heads and thick bodies. Reaching a length of 70–100 centimeters max,

Distribution

The common death adder occurs over much of eastern and coastal southern Australia – Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. It may also be found more scarce in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and the west parts of South Australia, due to its sister species of death adders .

Habitat

Common death adders are found in forests, woodlands, grasslands and heaths of the eastern coast of Australia. The death adder is a master of camouflage, due to its band stripes, hiding beneath loose leaf litter and debris in woodland, shrubland and grassland.

Reproduction

Unlike most snakes, death adders produce litters of live young. In the late summer, a female death adder will produce a litter of live babies, approximately 3–20, however over 30 young have been recorded in a single litter.

Food

Common death adders eat small mammals and birds as a primary diet. Unlike other snakes, the common death adder lies in wait for its prey until a meal passes. It covers itself with leaves—making itself inconspicuous—and lies coiled in ambush, twitching its grub-like tail close to its head as a lure. When an animal approaches to investigate the movement, the death adder quickly strikes, injecting its venom and then waits for the victim to die before eating it. This ambush hunting makes the death adder more of a threat to humans.

Defense

The common death adder venom contains highly toxic neurotoxin which can cause paralysis or even death. It can deliver the fastest strike among all venomous snakes recorded in Australia,