Coastal taipan

Appearance

Coastal taipans are large snakes. It is the largest venomous snake in Australia. Adult specimens of this species typically attains sexual maturity around 1.2 m in total length . More mature specimens can grow to between 1.5 and 2.0 m and can be relatively common. Other taipans, including the inland taipan, attain broadly similar sizes although tend to be slightly smaller in average size. A specimen of an average 1.96 m total length scales around 3 kg . According to the Queensland Museum, the longest recorded total length for the coastal taipan was a specimen that was 2.9 m and weighed 6.5 kg . However, though exceptionally rare, much larger specimens are widely believed to exist, including specimens of as much as 3.3 m .

The head of this species is long, narrow and big like that of the African black mamba . In fact, in several aspects of morphology, ecology and behaviour, the coastal taipan is strongly convergent with the black mamba . It has an angular brow and is lighter coloured on the face. The body is slender, yet strong and sturdy, and colouration can vary. They are often uniformly light olive or reddish-brown in colour, but some specimens may be dark gray to black. The colouration gets lighter on the sides of the body, and the ventral side is usually a creamy-white to a pale light yellow in colour, and is often marked with orange or pink flecks. The eyes are round, big and are light brown or even hazel in colour with big pupils.

Naming

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Distribution

Coastal taipans occur only in Australia and the island of New Guinea, which comprises two Indonesian provinces on the west side of the island and the nation of Papua New Guinea on the east side of the island. The Australian subspecies is found in the coastal regions of Queensland and in the northern parts of the Northern Territory and the northeastern parts of Western Australia. The southernmost part of this subspecies' range is the most northern tip of New South Wales bordering Queensland. Coastal taipans do not live anywhere where the maximum winter temperature is only 20 °C . The second subspecies is found throughout the island of New Guinea, with higher concentrations of the snake being found in the nation of Papua New Guinea.

Behavior

The coastal taipan is primarily diurnal, being mostly active in the early to mid-morning period, although it may become nocturnal in hot weather conditions. When hunting, it appears to actively scan for prey using its well-developed eyesight, and is often seen traveling with its head raised slightly above ground level. Once prey is detected, the snake ‘freezes’ before hurling itself forward and issuing several quick bites. The prey is released and allowed to stagger away. This strategy minimises the snake’s chance of being harmed in retaliation, particularly by rats, which can inflict lethal damage with their long incisors and claws. It is not a confrontational snake and will seek to escape any threat. When cornered, though, it can become very aggressive and may strike repeatedly.

Habitat

Coastal taipans occur only in Australia and the island of New Guinea, which comprises two Indonesian provinces on the west side of the island and the nation of Papua New Guinea on the east side of the island. The Australian subspecies is found in the coastal regions of Queensland and in the northern parts of the Northern Territory and the northeastern parts of Western Australia. The southernmost part of this subspecies' range is the most northern tip of New South Wales bordering Queensland. Coastal taipans do not live anywhere where the maximum winter temperature is only 20 °C . The second subspecies is found throughout the island of New Guinea, with higher concentrations of the snake being found in the nation of Papua New Guinea.Coastal taipans can be found in a variety of different habitats. They can be found in warm, wetter temperate to tropical coastal regions, in monsoon forests, wet and dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands, and in natural and artificial grassy areas, including grazing paddocks, and disused rubbish tips. In Queensland, they have adapted well to sugarcane fields, where they thrive on the rodent population in the fields. In Far North Queensland in the Cape York Peninsula, they are usually found in open woodland areas. Thickets of introduced lantana are also favoured habitat. The coastal taipan shelters in abandoned animal burrows, hollow logs and in piles of vegetation and litter.

Food

The coastal taipan is primarily diurnal, being mostly active in the early to mid-morning period, although it may become nocturnal in hot weather conditions. When hunting, it appears to actively scan for prey using its well-developed eyesight, and is often seen traveling with its head raised slightly above ground level. Once prey is detected, the snake ‘freezes’ before hurling itself forward and issuing several quick bites. The prey is released and allowed to stagger away. This strategy minimises the snake’s chance of being harmed in retaliation, particularly by rats, which can inflict lethal damage with their long incisors and claws. It is not a confrontational snake and will seek to escape any threat. When cornered, though, it can become very aggressive and may strike repeatedly.These snakes feed solely on warm-blooded animals, such as mammals and birds. Rats, mice, bandicoots, and various species of birds make up their entire diet.

Defense

This snake is the world's third-most venomous snake. The SC LD50 value of this species is 0.106 mg/kg, according to Australian Venom and Toxin database, and 0.12 mg/kg, according to Engelmann and Obst . The average venom yield per bite is 120 mg, with a maximum record of 400 mg.

Its venom contains primarily taicatoxin, a highly potent neurotoxin known to cause hemolytic and coagulopathic reactions. In case of severe envenomation, death can occur as early as 30 minutes after being bitten, but average death time after a bite is around 90 minutes and it is variable, depending on various factors such as the nature of the bite and the health state of the victim. Untreated bites have a mortality rate of 100% as it always delivers a fatal dose of venom.