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The McCoy taipan snake is a fierce reptile and is considered one of the most venomous land snakes. But, since it lives in sparsely populated areas of Australia and is quite secretive, accidents involving bites are rare. This is the only snake in Australia that can change its color. In the hot summer months, it has a light color - mostly greenish, which helps to better reflect the sun's rays and camouflage. During the winter, McCoy's taipan becomes darker, allowing it to absorb more sunlight. It has also been observed that his head is darker in the early morning and becomes lighter during the day.
"Wild Fierce Snake"
Before the advent of agricultural machinery, the dangerous snake often attacked people from the reed beds, so Australians were probably the most happy about the invention of the harvester.
Farmers generally nicknamed the taipan “wild, fierce snake.” This pose means that the taipan is ready to attack.
Unlike other poisonous snakes, if this one bites, it will bite. She catches her victim with her poisonous teeth several times in a row, just to be sure. Its poison acts many times faster than that of other reptiles. And the toxin from one bite is enough for a hundred people or 250 thousand mice. This data concerns the desert taipan, which is slightly smaller in size than just the taipan.
This desert species is also unique for Australia in terms of color changes. In the summer, when winter sets in in Australia, it becomes darker, tending towards black so that the sun will shine better. And in the warmer months (September to May), the desert taipan becomes lighter - from yellowish to brown, so as not to be too hot.
Major Toxins
Oxyuranus venom is a complex mixture of proteins and non-protein substances. Neurotoxins: both presynaptic (typoxin) and postsynaptic.
Procoagulants: Mainly factor Xa analogues, acts largely independently of cofactors (eg factor V, calcium, phospholipid) to convert prothrombin to thrombin (mesiothrombin).
Myolysins: second action presynaptic neurotoxin (eg, typoxin), which contain a phospholipase A2 component.
Creation
In addition to the founder, soloist and producer named Roman, the band also includes musicians Sergei, Yuri and Vyacheslav. Back in 2009, young people founded a group under a different name “Sparta-Project”. One composition from the album was included in the top songs at a music festival called “Kazantip”.
But from that time on, the guys’ careers did not work out, the reason for this was, as the young people themselves say, the excessive ambition and brightness of the performers. 10 years have passed since then and all this time they have been making music separately. Roman, for example, performed under the well-known pseudonym DJ Romira and managed to work with many DJs (for example, DJ MEXX).
At the beginning of 2022, the guys decided to try their hand again and united in the Taipan group. This name arose for a reason, because the taipan is one of the most dangerous and poisonous snakes, the bite of which can kill instantly.
In just a year, the group managed to release such songs as: “Mulaya”, “Childhood”, “Ay”, “New Year”, “Medina”, “School”, “Drunk” and several more compositions.
Today the guys are preparing to release another hit - the song “Ship”. It is noteworthy that the group writes the lyrics and music for their works themselves. And they draw inspiration from emotions, personal experience and events happening around them.
A great success and luck for them was the collaboration with a young and promising performer from Vladikavkaz named Agunda. This girl became instantly popular by recording just one viral and beautiful song. Their joint song called “Moon” today ranks first in various tops and music charts on VK, Shazam, and is also on the list of the most popular songs in Yandex.Music and BOOM.
The guys are regularly invited to various shows, and recently they visited the Autoradio studio for the “Let's Go” show. They also recently gave an interview to journalists on the TV-6 Kursk channel and talked about plans for the near future.
Expert opinion
Here's what biologist and herpetologist from the University of Missouri, David Penning, who studied the taipan for many years, said about the snake's venom and its effect on humans:
The taipan snake feeds mainly on mammals, which is rare. For this reason, nature has arranged for reptile venom to become especially dangerous for all mammals, including humans.
It contains strong toxins that immediately begin to act when they enter the body. Within the first hour after the attack, the victim experiences slurred speech, seizures, breathing problems and an inability to control his limbs.
Therefore, when bitten, every minute is important. The remaining time greatly depends on how much poison has entered the body, as well as on the characteristics of the person. The most critical is the first hour, after which internal hemorrhages appear and breathing may stop.
But there is no need to demonize these reptiles. They never attack on their own initiative. In addition, their poison is very precious to them. It takes a lot of effort to create it, and they try to use the snake’s venom sparingly. Therefore, a bite is a last resort.
Biologist, herpetologist David Penning
Protection of the viper
Photo: Gyurza from the Red Book
As mentioned earlier, not everywhere the situation with the population of Levan vipers is going well; in some areas these amazing reptiles are becoming less and less numerous. In our country, the viper is in the Red Book. On the territory of Russia, this species of snake lives in Dagestan, namely, in its southeastern part. It is safe to say that in our country this is the most dangerous of the poisonous snakes. The viper, which lives in Dagestan, is called Transcaucasian; its distinctive features are the presence of numerous scutes on the abdomen and the absence (a very small amount) of dark specks on it.
The population size of the Transcaucasian viper is very small. Counts carried out several years ago showed that there were no more than 1,000 of these snakes left. This situation has arisen due to human destruction of the reptile’s permanent habitat: plowing of land, grazing of livestock on mountain slopes and in lowlands, interference in the mountain river system for irrigation.
In addition to all this, the catching of snakes was not previously regulated in any way, so every year about 100 reptiles were caught for pharmaceutical needs, the size of which was more than 70 cm, and these are the most reproductive individuals. It is worth noting that there are very few Levantine vipers left not only in our country, but also in Kazakhstan, which is why this snake is in the Red Book there too.
In the end, I would like to add that the size of the viper, its power, the danger it creates, the strong poison and insidious nature make one shudder at the thought of this formidable reptile. But we should not forget that it brings considerable benefits to people, destroying hordes of rodent pests in cultivated fields. In addition, oddly enough, the poison of the viper has valuable healing properties.
Reproduction
The taipan reproduces by laying eggs. Two to three months after mating, which occurs at the end of winter, she lays from 5 to 20 eggs.
In this case, the usual type for masonry selects cavities in trees, places under roots or in the ground. McCoy's taipan uses rock crevices, spaces under rocks, and abandoned burrows to do this.
Cubs are born after 9-12 weeks, depending on environmental conditions. Recommended temperature range: from 27 to 30°C. Baby snakes are born about 45 cm long and completely ready for independent existence. In one season, a female can produce two clutches.
Taipans reproduce by laying eggs
The frequency of reproduction strongly depends on nutrition: if there is little food, the reptile delays the appearance of offspring. Also, a decline in the birth rate occurs in dry years.
Fierce snake
McCoy's taipan lives in central Australia - Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Individuals of this species can be found in deserts and dry plains, where they climb into cracks and fissures in the earth, hiding from enemies. The fierce snake is the most poisonous among all land species.
Description of the appearance of the snake
The fierce snake is smaller in size than the coastal taipan. McCoy's body length is on average 1.8-2 m; it is very rare to find an individual 2.5 m long.
The upper part of the snake's body is dark brown, light brown or straw in color. In winter (June-August), the reptile darkens, the head can acquire a black tint with gloss. The black markings absorb a lot of the sun's heat. Lightening of the body occurs with the onset of summer. The light color prevents the snake from overheating in the sun.
Poisonousness of the snake, behavioral features
The vicious snake is less aggressive than the coastal taipan, but its toxicity level exceeds that of all other venomous snakes on the planet. The snake contains 44-45 mg of venom. This dosage is enough to kill a hundred people or 250 thousand mice. The toxicity of a fierce snake is 180 times greater than that of a cobra.
The cruel snake rarely shows itself to people; it spends a lot of time in rock crevices or earthen cracks. The snake's diet consists of small mammals. The snake practically does not hunt amphibians.
Reproduction
Snakes mate in the males' hiding places. The mating season can last throughout the year. Females lay 10-20 eggs. The nest site can be a crack in the soil or an abandoned burrow of a large rodent. In one year, a female can make several clutches. The incubation period can last up to 65 days.
How do people die from a taipan bite?
The length of the taipan's teeth is about 13 mm. Its venom glands contain on average about 120 mg of poison, but can contain as much as 400 mg.
If you disturb the peace of a cruel snake, it becomes very aggressive and fast: if the taipan sees danger, it twists its body and begins to vibrate it, raises its head and shakes it, and then, in a split second, rushes at the enemy and hits him several times.
The venom of this snake is very toxic, disrupts blood clotting and paralyzes the respiratory muscles, as well as muscle contractions. In Queensland, every second person bitten dies.
What you should not do if you are bitten by a viper
Under no circumstances should a tourniquet be applied to an injured limb. If its blood supply is disrupted, the limb can become dead within just a few minutes. After removing the tourniquet, tissue decay products will enter the body, which will poison it more than the poison itself.
You should not burn the bite site. This is not only useless, but also very traumatic, since the venom of the viper penetrates deep into the tissue.
You should not cut the bitten area, as this can lead to infection of the wound. The poison is already necrotizing, and such manipulations will only worsen the situation.
Bloodletting is prohibited. The amount of poison in the circulatory system is completely insignificant. It already destroys blood cells, so additional bleeding will lead to dire consequences.
Vegetation, soil, etc. should not be applied. to the site of the bite. This way you can get tetanus.
It is prohibited to drink alcohol. It dilates blood vessels and promotes faster spread of poison.
Characteristics
The snake reacts to aggression with lightning speed and bites the enemy several times in a row. A victim of a taipan bite experiences paralysis of the respiratory tract. He immediately shows symptoms of blood incoagulability. If an antidote is not administered after a taipan bite, a person can die within 4 hours.
In general, taipans are peaceful and can attack only in case of aggression from the enemy. Moreover, when bitten, the entire dose of poison is not immediately sprayed. They do not settle near human habitation, so they are rarely found. The antidote used today was developed back in the 1950s. If you go to a medical facility in time after a bite, you can only get away with fear.
Coastal taipan
The coastal taipan is the largest snake on the Australian continent and New Guinea. It grows up to 3 - 3.2 m. This snake is considered the most dangerous for two reasons. The poison is highly toxic. After a bite, a person usually dies within a few minutes. The poison causes paralysis of the respiratory system and severe blood thinning. In nature, you can recognize the taipan by its dark or light brown tone and aggressive disposition. This snake lives not far from human settlements. When meeting a person or large animal, it raises its head high, sways to the beat, hisses, and then makes several lunges. Today, even after the introduction of an antidote and first aid, every second person dies.
Description of the taipan
Each type is slightly different. The internal species has dark brown scales with a black head. The coastal species has a reddish tint to brown scales. Finally, central taipan species have light, sandy-brown scales.
Depending on the species, individuals usually reach 150 or 180 cm in length. The longest recorded specimen was 290cm long, but some anecdotal reports claim they can reach 335cm in length!
One idea about “One of the most dangerous snakes on the planet: sand ephas”
The epha's venom is quite weak and according to LD50 it will not even be included in the top 50 most poisonous snakes. The same applies to the overall mortality rate of a bite.
10% of the number of people bitten. But in terms of the number of deaths from a bite, the sand epha is truly one of the deadliest snakes in the world; it kills significantly more per year than all taipans, mambas, kraits and cobras combined. But this is explained primarily not by the strength of the poison, but by the huge number of cases of human bites, when even with a low mortality rate, due to the large number of attacks on people, very impressive numbers of deaths are accumulated. So whatever you say, it turns out that efa is the most dangerous snake, with relatively modest indicators of both strength and amount of poison.
Sea monster
Remember above we talked about an important note and that the taipan is land? So, there is a snake in the world that is almost 100 times more poisonous than the taipan. It is a sea snake and is called Belcher's snake. A few milligrams of poison can kill a thousand people. However, the snake is peaceful, and most often fishermen suffer from its bite when they take their nets out of the water.
It lives in North America and Southeast Asia. The snake loves reefs very much and can stay underwater for about eight minutes, so it is mainly located there.
The venom contains myotoxin, which destroys muscles. However, when biting, a snake uses no more than a quarter of all its poisonous “reserves”. This is why most people bitten by Belcher's snake survive.
The danger of viper for humans
The Levant viper is one of the most dangerous species of snakes for humans and livestock. In moments of danger, this reptile can throw forward a distance equal to its body. Even experienced snake catchers have more than once become victims of Levantine vipers.
Due to its muscular, massive body, the viper is very difficult to hold in your hands. It is not recommended to hold it by the head - trying to free its head, the snake begins to make sharp jerks, the weight of the reptile's body in motion exceeds the strength of human hands. Getting bitten by a viper is most likely by catching it and holding it with your hands. There are many known cases of a viper biting a catcher.
In terms of toxicity, the venom of the viper is not much weaker than that of the cobra. When bitten, about 50 mg of poison enters the victim's body. In most cases, the victim dies.
The fact is that Levant vipers do not tolerate the movement of a large object near them. The snake attacks humans and cattle without warning or visible danger. The viper simply attacks objects larger than itself. Without revealing itself in any way, the viper retreats after the attack. It is almost impossible to detect it before the attack - the color blends in with the environment. The behavior of hiding in the foliage and sitting motionless makes the viper absolutely invisible.
Poisonous viper snakes are very dangerous - within half an hour after being bitten, a person begins to feel sick, experience headaches and dizziness. In most cases, the bite results in death.
The intensity of the viper's venom depends on how deeply the poisonous teeth penetrate the skin, the location of the bite on the body and the volume of toxic saliva injected. The physical condition of the bitten person also plays a role.
Taipan and human interaction
For the most part, these reptiles avoid interaction with humans. They are fast-moving snakes and usually run away when a person gets too close. However, if they feel caught or cornered, they become defensive. Coastal species are more aggressive than inland species.
Taming
Humans have not domesticated this snake in any way.
Would a taipan snake make a good pet?
No, none of the three species make good pets.
These snakes have very toxic and dangerous venom and a bite can kill you. These snakes are kept in zoos and research centers to educate the public and collect venom to create a life-saving antidote. Only trained people should handle these venomous snakes. They use snake tongs if they need to move the snake from its closet for cleaning, or feed them rats and mice.
Taipans are a relatively small cause of snakebites in Australia relative to the number of cases. Without proper antivenom treatment, up to 75% of taipan bites will be fatal. Indeed, in the era before specific antivenom therapy, there were practically no recorded survivors of a taipan bite.
Taipan snake ready to strike.
Main risks: neurotoxic paralysis, coagulopathy, rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure.
Target organs: neuromuscular junction, coagulation system, skeletal muscle.
Poisonous snakes
In Thailand, there are several of the most dangerous snakes, which differ from each other not only in color, but also in the strength of their venom.
The time of their activity also varies: some hide from sunlight, while others, on the contrary, are not averse to hunting during the day.
King Cobra
Despite its terrible and, at the same time, majestic name, this snake does not have the most dangerous poison. The fact is that when a king cobra bites, it tends to deliver poison in small portions or completely eliminate its introduction into the human body. This is due to the fact that the snake does not perceive a person as its victim. Therefore, she uses it sparingly.
But if a bite does occur, then about 7 milliliters of poison is injected into the human body. If the antidote is not taken in time, death occurs within 15 minutes.
The size of the king cobra can reach 5.5 meters.
Krayt tape
This type of snake has a bright and impressive appearance. Its color contains wide rings painted yellow and black. It is smaller in length than the king cobra - only about two meters.
However, its poison is so strong that one serving can kill up to 10 people. The peculiarity of the krait bite is that it is absolutely painless, and therefore very dangerous.
It can often be found on beaches at night. He crawls to bask near a person
One careless move and a person receives a portion of poison
Not even all snakes can withstand the toxicity of krait venom. For example, a viper that has a fairly strong immune system does not survive such a bite.
Important! When walking in the krait's habitat, you need to be extremely careful, since it can attack even without human provocation.
Malayan Cottonmouth
Of all the snakes that live in Asia, the copperhead is the most poisonous. An antidote has not yet been found for its bite. If this snake bites a person, then after half an hour he simply dies. Some victims are helped by conventional anti-snake venom remedies, but this is not always the case.
The peculiarity of the copperhead's venom is that it literally eats away the victim's tissue from the inside.
In addition to the dangerous poison, the snake is very insidious. If other reptiles by their appearance demonstrate the inevitability of a strike, then the copperhead can lie in the grass until the last moment and not show its presence. When he deems it necessary, a rapid throw occurs.
He especially loves bamboo groves and tropical forests.
chain viper
This snake has the largest population in Thailand compared to other snakes. More than 50% of bite cases are attributed to her. Previously, vipers were kept in special terrariums, but after the flood they spread throughout the country.
On average, the chain viper reaches 120 centimeters in length. A bite and the entry of poison into the body provokes hemorrhage in the brain and kidney failure. This snake attacks only if it senses danger. Therefore, when meeting her, it is better to avoid contact and calmly try to leave.
Important! The viper lives almost throughout Thailand, so you can find it almost everywhere.
White-lipped keffiyeh
These snakes are small. They generally reach one meter in length. They love to be both on the ground and in trees. A large number of attacks are associated with a wide habitat.
Most bites are more painful than dangerous. However, Thailand has also developed a special serum against the bite of the white-lipped keffiyeh.
Taipan behavior
Behavior varies from species to species. They are mainly active during the day. In very hot weather, these snakes become nocturnal and feed at night.
Taipan snake crawling
They are most active in the early morning when they use their keen vision to search for prey. Once they spot prey, they quickly attack and then hunt down the prey after it has died.
Poisonous snakes
According to the strength of the poison, the list of reptiles, except for the taipan snake, in descending order is as follows:
1. Mulga, found in Australia. The poison is so dangerous that even a meeting with a young individual can be fatal.
2. Blue krait, native to Southeast Asia. The bite is fatal even in half the cases of timely administration of the antidote.
3. The black mamba in Africa, considered the fastest on earth: in 1 hour it can cover 20 kilometers. A dose of venom from one bite can kill more than 10 people.
4. Tiger snake, found in Australia. Her attack always ends with a bite. First, the neurotoxin contained in the venom causes severe pain at the site of the bite, and then death from suffocation occurs.
5. The Philippine cobra has a distinctive feature - a beautiful hood that opens when aggressive. The main danger is the ability to spit poison at a distance of up to 3 meters.
6. Viper, living everywhere. A distinctive feature is extensive tissue necrosis due to the action of poison, intoxication of the body.
7. The Australian spinytail is a snake that also hunts its fellows. Outwardly, it is similar to a rattlesnake.
8. Rattlesnake, common in the North American region. It attacks a person only when she is driven into a corner.
Features of character and lifestyle
Photo: McCoy's Taipan in Australia
The Inland Taipan is considered the most poisonous snake on earth, with its venom many times stronger than that of a cobra. After a snake bite, death can occur within 45 minutes if antiserum is not administered. She is active day and night depending on the season. It is not until midsummer that McCoy's taipan sets out to hunt exclusively at night and retreats during the day to abandoned mammal burrows.
Interesting fact: In English, the snake is called a "wild fierce snake." McCoy's taipan received this name from farmers because it sometimes follows livestock into the pastures when hunting. Its history of discovery and intense toxicity made it the most famous snake in Australia in the mid-1980s.
However, McCoy's taipan is a rather shy animal that, in case of danger, runs and hides in holes underground. However, if escape is not possible, they go into a defensive position and wait for the right moment to bite the attacker. If you encounter this species, you should never feel safe when the snake makes a quiet appearance.
Like most snakes, even McCoy's Tylan maintains its aggressive behavior as long as it believes it is dangerous. Once he understands that you do not want to harm him, he loses all aggressiveness and it is almost safe to be in close proximity to him. To date, only a few people have been bitten by this species, and all have survived thanks to the prompt application of proper first aid and hospital treatment.
Population and species status
Photo: Gyurza in Russia
The habitat of Levant vipers is quite wide and diverse. At the moment, various organizations involved in the protection of animals and nature at the international level claim that the number of vipers is not in danger; there are a lot of these snakes in almost all territories where they have permanent residence. Digital calculations made by scientists also correspond to this statement.
They show that in the usual place of permanent location of the viper there are four individuals per hectare, and in the hot summer, up to twenty pieces per hectare gather near various water bodies. As a result of these data and other studies, there are no concerns about the population size of the viper, there are no threats of extinction, but this is not the case everywhere.
In some countries, the viper population is very small. This happened as a result of the development of rapid human agricultural activity and mass snake catching. It is no secret that viper venom is used in pharmaceuticals, making some medicines from it that help with rheumatism, radiculitis, and hemophilia.
Ill-considered human actions have led to the fact that in Russia and Kazakhstan the viper is listed in the Red Book. It is good that such a small state of the population is local, but in other regions the viper feels great and is not subject to the threat of destruction.
Natural enemies of McCoy's taipan snake
Photo: McCoy's venomous taipan snake
When threatened, McCoy's taipan can demonstrate threat by raising the front of its face in a tight, low S-curve. At this time, he directs his head towards the threat. If the attacker decides to ignore the warning, the snake will strike first if possible. But this doesn't always happen. Very often McCoy's tampai simply crawls away very quickly and attacks only if there is no way out. It is an extremely fast and agile snake that can attack instantly with extreme precision.
The list of McCoy's taipan enemies is very short, because... The reptile's venom is more toxic than any other snake. The mulga snake (Pseudechis australis) is immune to most snake venom from Australian snakes and is also known to eat young McCoy's taipans. Also the giant monitor lizard (Varanus giganteus), which shares the same habitat and readily preys on large venomous snakes. Unlike most snakes, the inland taipan is a specialized mammal hunter, so its venom is specifically tailored to kill warm-blooded species.
Fun Fact: It is estimated that one snake bite is lethal enough to kill at least 100 adult men, and depending on the nature of the bite, death can occur in as little as 30-45 minutes if left untreated.
McCoy's Taipan will defend itself and strike when provoked. But because the snake lives in remote places, it rarely comes into contact with people, so it is not considered the deadliest in the world, especially in terms of human deaths per year. The English name "fierce" refers to its venom rather than its temperament.
God's peace-loving creature
In fact, the taipan is not aggressive (if left alone) and is very rarely found in areas where people are. And during a bite, it releases only part of the poison. An antidote to snake venom was developed only in 1955; before that, 90% of the “lucky ones” died after meeting a taipan (about 80 people a year).
There are three types of these snakes in nature: the taipan proper, McCoy's taipan and oxyuranus temporalis. The last one was opened in 2007.
The taipan lives in Australia and is also found in New Guinea. This is a fairly large snake: some individuals reach three and a half meters.
The peak of aggression in taipans occurs during mating, as well as during the period when they change their skin.
The story of a snake
In fact, there were legends about taipans for a long time, and not everyone believed in their existence, because they had practically no contact with people. The taipan was first described in 1867, and then, for half a century, there was no information about the snake.
The snake was studied in more detail in 1950. Young catcher Kevin Baden caught the reptile on June 28, 1850. However, the guy was unlucky: the taipan bit his finger and he died. But the snake was still taken to the scientific center.
Where does it live?
As its name implies, the coastal taipan lives on the coasts of the northern parts of Australia and the northeast of the Australian state of Queensland. In addition, it can be found on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea. There, reptiles have chosen dense bushes, open forests, lawns and even pastures, where they often kill sheep and cows that accidentally step on them. We advise you to read about what a herpetologist is.
But pigs, having an innate immunity to the venom of these snakes, are able to clear pastures of reptiles escaping from their hooves, which is what Australian farmers take advantage of. Sometimes these reptiles are spotted in heaps of garbage in farm yards.
Origin of the species and description
Photo: McCoy's Taipan
Two Australian taipans, the taipan (O. scutellatus) and the McCoy taipan (O. microlepidotus), share common ancestors. Examination of the mitochondrial genes of these species indicates an evolutionary divergence from a common ancestor about 9-10 million years ago. McCoy's taipan was known to Australian Aborigines 40,000–60,000 years ago. McCoy's taipan was called Dundarabilla by the Aborigines of what is now Goyder Lagoon in north-eastern South Australia.
Video: McCoy's taipan snake
This taipan first attracted attention in 1879. Two specimens of the ferocious snake were discovered at the confluence of the Murray and Darling Rivers in north-west Victoria and were described by Frederick McCoy, who named the species Diemenia microlepidota. In 1882, a third specimen was found near Bourke, New South Wales, and D. Maclay described the same snake under the name Diemenia ferox (believing it was a different species). In 1896, George Albert Boulenger classified both snakes as belonging to the same genus, Pseudechis.
Fun fact: Oxyuranus microlepidotus has been the binomial name for the snake since the early 1980s. The generic name Oxyuranus is from the Greek OXYS "sharp, needle-like" and Ouranos "arch" (specifically the vault of the heavens) and refers to the needle-like fixture on the vault of the palate, the species name microlepidotus meaning "fine-scaled" (Latin).
Since it was determined that the snake (formerly: Parademansia microlepidota) is actually part of the genus Oxyuranus (taipan) and another species, Oxyuranus scutellatus, which was previously simply called taipan (a name derived from the name of the snake from the Aboriginal language of Dhayban), was classified as coastal the taipan, and the newly identified Oxyuranus microlepidotus, became commonly known as McCoy's taipan (or western taipan). After the first descriptions of the snake, information about it was not received until 1972, when the species was rediscovered.
What does the efa snake eat?
Photo: Poisonous snake efa
The efa spends most of its time in motion. Even after a hearty lunch, she doesn't slow down. That is why it is especially easy for her to get food. She can easily move sufficient distances and find a tasty diet for herself in a new place. In addition, due to its amazing speed, catching prey is usually not difficult.
Efa can eat the food that it manages to catch. Bugs, centipedes, locusts and other insects form the basis of Efa's diet. But this only applies to young individuals and small snakes. Adults most often still prefer rodents and even chicks, small-sized lizards. This provides them with much longer satiety and eliminates the need to look for food.
Usually snakes prefer to hunt at night. This is especially true on hot summer days. Then the efa waits out the heat in the hole, and at night goes out to hunt. Since snakes see well in the dark, it is not difficult to perfectly navigate the terrain in search of prey. But the rest of the time, the efa can lead an equally active lifestyle at any time, without giving up hunting even during the daytime.
Small-sized prey can be swallowed whole by a snake, which is most convenient for it. But if the potential victim is very large or can offer resistance, then the snake first immobilizes it with a portion of poison, and only then eats it. At night, the efa most often prefers to hunt mice and other small rodents.
Appearance and features
Photo: McCoy's taipan snake
The McCoy taipan snake has a dark coloration that ranges from deep dark to light brown-green (depending on the season). The back, sides and tail include various shades of gray and brown, with many scales having a broad blackish edge. The darkly marked scales are arranged in diagonal rows, forming a matching pattern with variable length markings slanted back and down. The lower lateral scales often have a yellow anterior margin, while the dorsal scales are smooth.
The head and neck with a rounded nose have shades much darker than the body (glossy black in winter, dark brown in summer). The darker color allows the taipan McCoy to better warm itself, exposing only a small part of the body at the entrance to the burrow. Medium-sized eyes have a blackish-brown iris and no noticeable colored rim around the pupil.
Fun fact: McCoy's Taipan can adapt its color to the outside temperature, so it is lighter in summer and darker in winter.
McCoy's taipan has 23 rows of dorsal scales in the middle part of the body, with 55 to 70 divided subcaudal scales. The average length of the snake is approximately 1.8 m, although large specimens can reach a total length of 2.5 meters. Its canines range from 3.5 to 6.2 mm in length (shorter than those of the coastal taipan).
Now you know about the most poisonous snake, the McCoy taipan. Let's see where she lives and what she eats.
Snakes of the Green Continent
Some species of these creatures are so accustomed to people that they even settle in urban areas. Snakes can be found especially often on farms, as well as in the suburbs. There are even cases where quite large specimens were found in supermarkets, and a few years ago a report appeared in the press that a 6-meter python fell through the roof and ended up right in the sales area of one of the stores in Queensland.
Such close proximity could not but become a cause for concern, especially since Australian snakes often attack people. True, it must be said that they rarely take the initiative, and attack only if they think that they are being caught or killed. At the same time, due to the fact that in every medical institution in the country, as well as in the homes of many residents of the Green Continent, there is a sufficient amount of an effective antidote (antivenin), deaths rarely occur.
Although almost all snakes in Australia are potentially dangerous, we decided to talk about several of the most dangerous of them, living both on the continent itself and in its coastal waters. Getting to know them is extremely interesting, and the photographs of these creatures are simply mesmerizing.
Reproduction and lifespan
With the onset of mating season, taipans become the most aggressive. By sixteen months the male and by twenty-eight months the female become sexually mature. The mating season of these snakes lasts ten months a year.
But the most active ones are from the end of June to mid-autumn. In Australia, spring arrives by this time. Weather conditions in the spring months are the most optimal for the maturation of offspring. And in the future, when the babies are born, they will have plenty of food.
Not so much males as females arrange duels among themselves, which last for a long time until the weaker individual retreats. The female then crawls into the male's hole or under the rhizome of a tree, and seventy days after mating she begins to lay eggs.
There can be from eight to twenty-three pieces, but on average there are 13-18. The eggs laid will be incubated for about three months. The incubation period depends on temperature and humidity.
The newborn taipans, already seven centimeters long, are still under the care of their parents. But the children grow very quickly and will soon begin to crawl out of the shelter to profit from a small lizard. And soon they will go into adulthood altogether.
Taipans are little studied snakes, and it is not known how many years they live in the wild. However, in terrarium keeping the maximum life expectancy is 15 years.
Nutrition
Snakes belong to the category of predators and therefore are natural hunters. In principle, they are capable of killing large prey, but not every such victim is suitable for feeding on small-sized efs, because their mouth is not adapted to absorb them. Therefore, their main food source is toads, frogs, lizards, small birds, and small rodents.
Sometimes fellow snakes become prey for ephs, but not the larger ones. But if there are suddenly interruptions in such nutrition, the hungry reptiles become incredibly aggressive and try to attack everything they can swallow. Young ephs prefer to eat all kinds of small things: scorpions, beetles, centipedes, locusts and other insects.
Lifestyle and habits
Basically, taipans adhere to a diurnal lifestyle. But at the hottest time of the day they hide from the sun. They hunt early in the morning, when the sun has not yet begun to get hot, and at dusk. Most of these snakes' time is spent searching for food. They sit, hiding in the bushes, waiting for prey.
The taipan is extremely playful and agile, despite the fact that it spends a lot of time during the day, practically motionless, waiting for its prey. Seeing an object suitable for food, or sensing danger, the reptile moves to where it needs to go in several sharp lunges (each 3-5 m long) in just a few seconds.
What does the viper eat?
Photo: Poisonous viper
The menu of different subspecies of viper differs, because... The areas of its habitat and the presence of this or that living creature in the inhabited territory are also different. In some areas, the snake menu consists mainly of all kinds of rodents, in others - from birds. The birds are eaten by reptiles that have settled in Central Asia.
In the viper menu you can see:
- Common house mice;
- Gerbils;
- Vole mice;
- Jerboas;
- Khomyakov;
- Young hares will be born;
- Hedgehogs;
- Small turtles;
- Geckos;
- Various lizards;
- Insects;
- Polozov;
- Yellowbellies;
- Baby porcupine.
This is how varied the diet of this most dangerous snake is. It should be added that only a very hungry viper attacks reptiles; it does this when it cannot find other prey. The viper hunts birds from an ambush located near the water. Birds that come to drink often become victims of a snake, which pounces with lightning speed and bites the victim with sharp teeth. Sometimes the bird manages to escape, the viper does not pursue the victim, who soon falls, struck on the spot by a strong poison.
It should be noted that the viper, which has settled on cultivated land, provides enormous benefits to humans, destroying many rodent pests.
Taipan food
The taipan snake, regardless of what species it belongs to, has standard food preferences. Warm-blooded animals serve as food for the most part:
- rats;
- mice;
- jerboas;
- birds.
When hunting, the reptile tracks its prey thanks to its excellent vision. The snake freezes with its head raised above the ground, waits for the victim to come closer, and quickly attacks.
Taipan feeds on warm-blooded animals
During an attack, she immediately delivers several ferocious blows, making up to 8 bites in one throw. The reptile then usually releases the prey and waits for the venom to take effect. In some cases, she holds her victim with her body, which, under the influence of toxins, quickly loses the ability to resist.
Social structure and reproduction
Photo: Gyurza
Levant vipers become sexually mature when they reach 3–4 years of age. Their mating season begins at different times, depending on the climate of a particular area, but most often it occurs in April-May.
It should be noted that not all vipers are oviparous; there are also ovoviviparous reptiles. Snakes usually lay eggs in July or August; the clutch can contain from 6 to 43 eggs, this is influenced by the size of the female. The weight of one egg is from 10 to 20 grams, and its diameter can reach from 20 to 54 mm. Eggs are laid in holes left by someone, in rock crevices; the incubation period lasts about 50 days. For successful development of embryos, there must be moderate humidity, then the weight of the eggs increases. Strong dampness can cause harm, causing mold and death of the embryo.
Usually at the end of August or at the beginning of September the offspring hatch. Little snakes are born already formed and completely independent. Their length reaches 28 cm, and the babies weigh about 12 g. At first, the babies eat all kinds of insects, gradually starting to catch heavier victims. In natural conditions, the viper usually lives no more than one dozen years, and in captivity - twice as long.
Taipan venomous apparatus and venom composition
The poison is produced by paired modified salivary glands, superficially located under the scales behind the eye, and surrounded by muscles, the contraction of which compresses the glands, expelling the poison anteriorly through the poisonous ducts to the fangs.
The canines are also paired, located in the front part of the upper jaw, on the maxillary bones. They have a closed groove for transporting venom, exiting near the tip of the fang.
The length of the fang in adult taipans varies and depends on the species:
- O. microlepidotus, 3.5 - 6.2 mm;
- O. scutellatus, 7.9 - 12.1 mm.
Average poison yield:
- O. microlepidotus, 44 mg, max. 110 mg;
- O. scutellatus, 120 mg, max. 400 mg.
Medium poison is injected first with a bite (defensive blow):
- O. microlepidotus, 17.3 mg, range 0.7-45.6 mg, average amount of venom on skin 0.6 mg;
- O. scutellatus, 20.8 mg, range 0.6-68.9 mg, average 0.9 mg venom on skin.
