Appearance
Mulga snakes are large, venomous snakes growing up to 2.5 to 3.0m in length in the largest specimens, although 1.5 m is a more typical length for an average adult. It is exceeded in length among venomous snakes only by the Asiatic king cobra, some species of African mambas, genus ''Lachesis'' of the American neotropics, and the Australian taipan A good-sized adult mulga snake of 2 to 2.5 m length can weigh 3 to 6 kg and mulga snakes are often heavier than the co-occurring taipans. The colour of the snakes differs from area to area within their range; mulga snakes can be a light brown colour in the desert to a dark, brown-blackish colour in the cooler regions of Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales. Mulga snakes are robust, with a wide head and smooth snout.Distribution
Mulga snakes occur in most states of Australia except for Victoria and Tasmania. Its range includes all of the Northern Territory, most parts of Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. It may also be found in the western parts of the Australian Capital Territory.Mulga snakes inhabit woodlands, hummock grasslands, chenopod scrublands and almost bare gibber or sandy deserts, usually sheltering near humans under timber, rubbish piles, burrows and deep soil cracks. They are not found in rainforests.
Habitat
Mulga snakes occur in most states of Australia except for Victoria and Tasmania. Its range includes all of the Northern Territory, most parts of Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. It may also be found in the western parts of the Australian Capital Territory.Mulga snakes inhabit woodlands, hummock grasslands, chenopod scrublands and almost bare gibber or sandy deserts, usually sheltering near humans under timber, rubbish piles, burrows and deep soil cracks. They are not found in rainforests.
Reproduction
Female mulga snakes produce a clutch of around 8–20 eggs, which may be laid in a disused burrow or beneath a log or rock. There is no maternal care for the eggs once they have been laid. Eggs take about 2–3 months to hatch, after which time the newly hatched snakes must care for themselves.Food
The mulga snake primarily preys on lizards, birds, small mammals and frogs. It is well adapted to eating other snakes, including all venomous snakes.Defense
The mulga snake venom consists of myotoxins. The LD50 is 2.38 mg/kg subcutaneous. Its venom is not particularly toxic to mice, but it is produced in huge quantities. The average tiger snake produces around 10–40 mg when milked. By comparison, a large king brown snake may deliver 150 mg in one bite.Black snake antivenom is used to treat bites from this species, after a CSL venom detection kit has returned a conclusive result for mulga snake envenomation, and there are signs that antivenom use is required.
Venomous snakes normally only attack humans when disturbed. Mulga snakes have, however, been noted to bite people who were asleep at the time.
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