Taipan
| Taipans | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Oxyuranus |
The Taipan is a genus of large, fast-moving and highly venomous Australasian snakes of the elapid family. There are currently three recognized species, one of which, the coastal taipan, has two subspecies.
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Overview [edit]
The taipan was named by anthropologist Donald Thomson after the word used by the Wik-Mungkan Aboriginal people of central Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia.[1]
The three known species are: the coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus), the inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) and a recently discovered third species, the Central Ranges taipan (Oxyuranus temporalis).[2] The coastal taipan has two subspecies: the coastal taipan (O. s. scutellatus), found along the northeastern coast of Queensland, and the Papuan taipan (O. s. canni), found on the southern coast of Papua New Guinea. Their diets consist primarily of small mammals, especially rats and bandicoots.
Species of this genus possess highly neurotoxic venom with some other toxic constituents which have multiple effects on victims. The venom is known to paralyze victim's nervous system and clot the blood which then blocks blood vessels and uses up clotting factors. Members of this genus are considered to be among the most venomous land snakes based on their murine LD50, an indicator of the toxicity on mice. The inland taipan is considered to be the most venomous land snake and the coastal taipan, which is arguably the largest Australian venomous snake, is the third most venomous land snake.[3] The central ranges taipan has been less researched than other species of this genus, so the exact toxicity of its venom is still not clear, but it may be even more venomous than the other taipan species.[4] Apart from venom toxicity, quantities of venom delivered should also be taken into account for the danger posed. The coastal taipan is capable of injecting a large quantity of venom due to its large size.[5]
Temperament also varies from species to species. The inland taipan is generally shy while the coastal taipan can be quite aggressive when cornered and will actively defend itself.[5]
Taxonomy [edit]
| Species | Subspecies | Common name |
|---|---|---|
| Oxyuranus microlepidotusT | 0 | Inland taipan |
| Oxyuranus scutellatus | 2 | Coastal taipan |
| Oxyuranus temporalis | 0 | Central Ranges Taipan |
References [edit]
- ^ Sutton, Peter. Wik Ngathan Dictionary, 1995.
- ^ Doughty, Paul et al. "A New Species of Taipan (Elapidae: Oxyuranus) from Central Australia." Zootaxa 1422, 2007 (pages 45–58).
- ^ Séan Thomas & Eugene Griessel - Dec 1999. "LD50".
- ^ "One of the Most Venomous Snakes in the World - Oxyuranus temporalis." International Institute for Species Exploration, 2008.
- ^ a b "IMMEDIATE FIRST AID for bites by Australian Taipan or Common Taipan".
External links [edit]
 |
Look up taipan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- Barnett, Brian. "Keeping and Breeding the Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus)." Journal of the Victorian Herpetological Society, 10 (2/3), 1999 (pages 38–45).
- Williams, David. "The Death of Kevin Budden." David Williams' Australian Herpetology Online, January 2004.
- "Coastal Taipan," the Australian Reptile Online Database, www.arod.com.au
- "Inland Taipan," the Australian Reptile Online Database, www.arod.com.au
