THE REPTILES OF AUSTRALIA - ELAPIDS

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
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REPTILES OF THE WORLD SPECIES LISTS


COASTAL TAIPAN
and Papuan Taipan


Oxyuranus scutellatus

Dangerously Venomous
Usually grows to around 2 metres (6.5ft)




COMMON NAME

SCIENTIFIC NAME
(External Link)

DISTRIBUTION
(uncertain)

New Guinea Taipan or Papuan Taipan

Oxyuranus scutellatus canni

Southern Papua New Guinea, Indonesia (Irian Jaya)

Coastal Taipan

Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus

Far north of WA, and NT and Eastern coast of Qld extending into far north-eastern NSW(Australia)


Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) showing head scalation

Taipan Oxyuranus scutellatus
Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) photographed at Billabong Zoo, NSW





Approximate distribution of Taipans in Australia.
The Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) is shown in Green

Note that New Guinea Taipan or Papuan Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus canni) occurs in Southern New Guinea

Click here to see photos of Taipans (Oxyuranus scutellatus) at flickr

Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) photographed at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park & Zoo, Childers, Qld.
Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) photographed at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park & Zoo, Childers, Qld.


Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) photographed at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park & Zoo, Childers, Qld.
Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) photographed at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park & Zoo, Childers, Qld.


Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) photographed at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park & Zoo, Childers, Qld.
Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) photographed at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park & Zoo, Childers, Qld.


Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) photographed at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park & Zoo, Childers, Qld.
Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) photographed at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park & Zoo, Childers, Qld.



Captive Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus)


   COASTAL TAIPAN  - Oxyuranus scutellatus
The Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) is one of the most feared species of snakes in Australia


COASTAL TAIPAN  - Oxyuranus scutellatus
Red Phase Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus), Unknown Locality, Queensland.

Taipan, skull.
"Taipan, skull."
by utahmatz is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Click here to see photos of Taipans (Oxyuranus scutellatus) at flickr




 Snake Lizard other reptile or related image being displayed at the Reptilesof Australia website. Copyright laws may cover the use of this picture.
A bunch of neonate Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus), male from Rockhampton Qld, female from Cooktown, Qld

COASTAL TAIPAN  - Oxyuranus scutellatus
A bicphalic still-born Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) from the same above group.


COASTAL TAIPAN  - Oxyuranus scutellatus
Breeding Coastal Taipans (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus). Cooktown female and Cairns male.
The blue bolus near the vent of the female is caused by the male's hemipene.


COASTAL TAIPAN  - Oxyuranus scutellatus
The above picture is of a Coastal Taipan(Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) and Herpetologisticus stupidus.  David warns: "PLLEEEASSSE, kiddies, don't try this at home." The snake is a very tame long term captive bred animal.

Venomous snakes do not always inject venom when biting, however due to the extremely high toxicity of the venom of this species, it is vital that first aid is performed immediately (Constrictive bandage etc) and the patient is taken immediately to hospital. Lack of symptoms may not mean that the victim has not been envenomated.

Correct and immediate first aid and treatment for this species and other dangerous snakes increases the chance of survival.

Although people are commonly bitten by dangerous snakes in Australia, the actual number of deaths is actually very low, due to antivenines and medical procedures.

THERE ARE 3 SPECIES OF TAIPAN FOUND IN AUSTRALIA

COMMON NAME

SCIENTIFIC NAME

DISTRIBUTION

Inland Taipan or Fierce Snake

Oxyuranus microlepidotus

NSW, Qld, SA, Vic(?) NT?

Coastal Taipan

Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus

NSW, NT, Qld, WA

Western Desert or Central Ranges Taipan

Oxyuranus temporalis

WA, NT (no records From SA but likely to occur)


LINKS OF INTEREST

Click here for more Information about Australian Elapid Snakes

RECOMMENDED AMAZON BOOKS
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Australian Snakes In Captivity (A Guide to) Working with Snakes: A comprehensive information and training manual for professional Australasian snake consultants Kindle Edition

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OTHER LINKS

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Elapids

Elapids

Elapids
of
The World

Elapids
of
Australia

AUSTRALIAN ELAPID SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY



Elapids of South Australia

ELAPID SNAKES OF NSW

Qld ELAPID SNAKES - Elapidae Cobras Coral Snakes

NT ELAPID SNAKES - Elapidae Cobras Coral Snakes

WA ELAPID SNAKES - Elapidae Cobras Coral Snakes

ELAPID SNAKES OF VICTORIA

Elapids of ACT

ELAPIDS OF TASMANIA

Elapids
of South
Australia

Elapids
of
NSW

Elapids
of
Qld

Elapids
of
NT

Elapids
of
WA

Elapids
of
Victoria

Elapids
of
ACT

Elapids
of
Tasmania

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY

Reptiles of South Australia
REPTILES OF VICTORIA
REPTILES OF NSW REPTILES OF QUEENSLAND REPTILES OF NORTHERN TERRITORY REPTILES OF Western Australia Reptiles of the ACT(Canberra)

Reptiles of South Australia

Reptiles
of
Victoria

Reptiles
of
NSW

Reptiles
of
Qld

Reptiles
of
NT

Reptiles
of
WA

Reptiles
of the
ACT

Reptiles of Tasmania

MORE REPTILE SPECIES LISTS

Reptiles of Lord Howe Island

Reptiles of Christmas Island

Reptiles
of Cocos Keeling Islands

Reptiles of Norfolk Island


Reptiles of Australia

Selection of Australian Frogs

Reptiles of the World

Amphibians of the World

Reptiles
of
Australia

Frogs
of
Australia

Reptiles
of
The World

Amphibians of the
World




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Contact John Fowler Author of the Australian Herpetology Website, Pythons of the World, - Owner of the Adelaide Reptile Forum

Contact John Hollister Author of John Hollister Reptile Collection - Herping the Trans-Pecos & Sweetwater, Texas Rattlesnake Roundup

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Updated July 24, 2023


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