Inland Taipan

Inland Taipan Oxyuranus microlepidotus
Inland Taipan is the most toxic land snake in the world, with a lethal dose estimated to be fifty times that of the Indian cobra.Inland Taipan has most toxic venom. Maximum yield recorded (for one bite) is 110mg. That would probably be enough to kill over 100 people or 250,000 mice.Although the Inland Taipan has the most potent venom of any land snake on earth. It is usually quite shy in nature. Taipan venom is overwhelmingly Neurotoxic and thus nervous system is severely affected. Symptoms include vomiting, flaccid paralysis, and eventual respiratory paralysis.The back, sides and tail may be buff-grey to greyish brown, buff-brown, brown or reddish dark brown. The round-Snouted head and neck are usually darker than the body (glossy black in winter, dark brown in summer). The eye is of average size with a blackish brown iris.The Inland Taipan shelters in rat burrows (probably having eaten the original owners), in deep soil cracks and sink holes, and sometimes in rock crevices and deep fissures. It feeds on small to medium-sized mammals. The extremely potent venom acts so quickly that the snake can hold the prey until it succumbs without itself suffering injury. In times of plenty, the Inland Taipan can become quite fat; during prolonged drought, it can starve and become remarkably thin.It is usually most active on the surface in the early half of the morning when it basks. In cooler weather, it is also active in the afternoon; in hot weather it becomes nocturnal.


There are about 140 species of snakes in Australia. The most poisonous land snake is the inland tiapan found in south-western Queensland and north-eastern South Australia. Tiger snakes, death adders, copperheads, brown snakes, and red-bellied black snakes are all also highly venomous.