Common Death Adder
Encyclopedia
The Common Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus), is a species of Death Adder
native to Australia
. It is one of the most venomous land snakes in Australia and the world. Unlike its sister species of Death Adders, the Common Death Adder is common and is not under major threat.
which can cause paralysis. It can deliver the fastest strike among all venomous snakes recorded in Australia.
Acanthophis
Acanthophis is a genus of elapid snakes. Commonly called death adders, they are native to Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands, and are among the most venomous snakes in the world...
native to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is one of the most venomous land snakes in Australia and the world. Unlike its sister species of Death Adders, the Common Death Adder is common and is not under major threat.
Description
Common Death Adders have broad flattened, triangular heads and thick bodies. Reaching a length of 70-100 centimeters, they are light brown with dull, darker brown-black stripes running horizontally across their bodies. Their fangs are longer than most of Australia’s venomous snakes.Distribution
The Common Death Adder occurs over much of eastern and coastal southern Australia - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. It may also be found more scarce in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and the west parts of South Australia, due to its sister species of Death Adders (e.g. Desert Adder).Habitat
Common Death Adders are found in forests, woodlands, grasslands and heaths of the Eastern Coast of Australia. The Death Adder is a master of camouflage, due to its band stripes, hiding beneath loose leaf litter and debris in woodland, shrubland and grassland.Diet
Common Death Adders eat small mammals and birds as a primary diet. Unlike other snakes, the Common Death Adder lies in wait for its prey (often for many days) until a meal passes. It covers itself with leaves — making itself inconspicuous — and lies coiled in ambush, twitching its yellowish grub-like tail close to its head as a lure. When an animal approaches to investigate the movement, the death adder quickly strikes, injecting its venom and then waits for the victim to die before eating it. This ambush hunting makes the death adder more of a threat to humans.Reproduction
Unlike most snakes, Death Adders produce litters of live young. In the late summer, a female Death Adder will produce a litter of live babies, approximately 10-20, however over 30 young have been recorded in a single litter.http://www.reptilepark.com.au/animals.asp?catID=16&ID=106Venom
The Common Death Adder venom contains highly toxic neurotoxinNeurotoxin
A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells , usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. Some sources are more general, and define the effect of neurotoxins as occurring at nerve tissue...
which can cause paralysis. It can deliver the fastest strike among all venomous snakes recorded in Australia.