Taipan

The Taipan also goes by the name of the Typhoon snake found in the deserted regions. The deadly inland taipan is a member of the elapid snake family. It can be found in Central and East Australia's semi-arid regions. The inland taipan was discovered towards the end of the nineteenth century, but scientists weren't able to describe and investigate it until the next specimen arrived 90 years later. The inland taipan is indigenous to Australia, meaning it can only be found there. Inland taipans are rare in Queensland and common in South Australia, according to official Australian authorities. 

The name Oxyuranus which is the scientific name of Taipan comes from the Greek words oxis, which means sharp, and oura, which means tail. The name "microlepidotus" comes from the Greek words "micros" for "tiny" and "lepis" for "scale." When you put it all together, the scientific name is ‘small-scaled sharp-tail.'

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Taipan Classification

• Physical Appearance- The Inland taipan can grow to be 6 to 8 feet long. The back of an inland taipan is light brown to brownish to light green. The black margins of the scales on the dorsal and lateral sides of the body generate V-shaped marks along the body. The belly of the Taipan Snake is either creamy or light golden in colour. The head, neck, and rounded nose are darker than the remainder of the body. Unlike Coastal Taipans, the head of the Inland Taipan does not separate from the neck. The body has a sleek appearance. Individuals' rear scales range in colour from pale brown to a rich olive-brown or even black. Counting the rows of scales across the back at mid-body and observing the pattern of scales on the head and tail are the only fully accurate ways to identify most snakes. A few have distinctive body shapes, and some scale patterns are one-of-a-kind, but the colour is quite diverse in general. The colour of the body changes with the seasons. During the summer, the light-coloured body prevents overheating of the inland taipan, especially the ones in the coastal regions which are often referred to as coastal Taipan while the dark-coloured skin promotes heat accumulation during the winter.

• Anatomy- Because they are adapted to living on the ground, inland taipans are classified as terrestrial animals. The inland taipan has great eyesight and a keen sense of smell, both of which are employed to find prey. Rodents, small animals, and birds make up its food. These higher advanced snakes have only one functional right lung and a single carotid artery on the left side. Two small teeth are cemented in place on Taipans. They are hollow teeth that fill with poison from two venom glands on either side of the snake's head, similar to hypodermic needles. After the inland taipan and the Eastern brown snake, the coastal taipan is the third-most venomous land snake.

• Taipan Snake Diet- Taipans identify their prey through smelling and sensing movement. They appear to have greater vision than most snakes. They rapidly flick their forked tongue in and out of their mouth, ‘tasting' the presence of prospective prey creatures in the air. Jacobson's organ in the roof of the mouth transmits this chemical information to the brain. The rat is cornered in its burrow or a gap in the dirt by the Inland Taipan, who bites it multiple times without releasing it. Unlike the Coastal Taipan, which hits then releases its prey, it may even grip the prey in a bend of its body. The poison is so fast-acting that the victim has no time to fight back. Snakes have extraordinary adaptations that enable them to swallow their prey whole.

• Breeding and Reproduction of the Taipan Snake - Mating takes place in the spring, between August and December. Male Inland Taipans may engage in ritualistic fighting, similar to Coastal Taipans. They wrestle until the stronger snake forces his rival's head to the ground, wrapping their bodies around each other like a coiled rope. The fight could linger for hours before the stronger male wins the privilege to mate with the female. If the woman is interested, he brushes his chin up and down her body before twisting his lower body under hers. During the breeding season, a female may mate with more than one male, and mating can extend for several hours. The female lays up to 20 eggs about 2 months after mating, with an average clutch size of 16 eggs. Females that are older tend to lay more eggs than those who are younger.

• Lifespan- Taipan eggs have a leathery, porous shell and are elongated in shape. Because of the significant energy costs and risks connected with reproduction, females do not normally mate every year. The female leaves the nest site after laying her eggs. After roughly 2 months, the eggs hatch. Under ideal conditions, young snakes can grow quite quickly. Males and females are generally the same sizes when they reach adulthood. Male Taipans reach sexual maturity around the age of 16 months, whereas female Taipans reach sexual maturity around the age of 28 months. Snakes kept in captivity usually survive for 10 to 15 years. At Australia Zoo, an Inland Taipan lived to be nearly 20 years old.

• Risks and Threats- Pseudechis australis, the mulga snake, is resistant to most Australian snake venom and is known to prey on young inland taipans. Varanus Gigantes, a huge monitor lizard, has the same habitat as the perentie snake. When it reaches adulthood, it will readily take on enormous venomous snakes as prey. 

• Conservation Status- Within its range, the Inland Taipan is common and not considered endangered. It, like every other Australian snake, is legally protected. It's a remarkable species that is perfectly evolved to its unique niche in the Australian outback, and it deserves our undivided attention.

• Human Encounter- Because of their remoteness and brief above-ground appearance during the day, inland taipans are rarely seen in the wild by the typical person. The inland taipan may not be scared or bothered by a human presence if there isn't a lot of vibration and noise. However, due to the possibility of a fatal bite, caution should be exercised and a safe distance maintained. If provoked, mishandled, or stopped from escaping, the inland taipan will defend itself and strike. It creates a threat by raising its forebody in a tight low S-shaped curve with its head towards the threat, however, this is not always the case. The inland taipan will strike if the person chooses to reject the warning. It is a fast and agile snake that can attack quickly and with pinpoint accuracy, and it envenoms in almost all cases.

The Venom of Taipan Snake

The venom of the taipan comprises pre-and postsynaptic neurotoxins, myotoxins, and procoagulants, all of which cause the victim to die quickly and painfully. Myotoxins produce myolysis, which is the breakdown or disintegration of muscle tissue, whereas neurotoxins cause paralysis or muscle weakening. Procoagulants are poisons that prevent blood from clotting properly, putting their victims in danger of serious bleeding. The strongest procoagulants found in snake venom are Taipan procoagulants. Fortunately, antivenom is available, but if a taipan bites you, you must act quickly. Taipans can capture their victim quickly due to the power of their poison. When the snakes corner their prey, they strike and inject poison right away. They then let off of the prey and wait for it to become immobilised. This shields them from their prey's claws and keen fangs. is

Tips To Treat The Taipan Snake Venom Bite

• Immediately seek medical assistance.

• Maintain the victim's calm by reassuring him. Because venom spreads through the lymphatic system, it's best to keep muscle contractions (movement) to a minimum.

• The bite location should not be cut or washed. Wrap the bite location with a pressure bandage or any other pieces of cloth, then wrap the bitten limb from the extremities back to the biting site. This stops venom from spreading through the lymphatic system. Wrap securely, but not too tightly. 

• Use a splint to help keep the limb immobilised. The person should then be transferred to the nearest hospital as soon as possible, preferably by ambulance.

Inland Taipan Facts

1. Inland Taipans can reach a length of around 2.5 metres or nearly 8 feet in imperial measurements. This is higher than the average NBA player's height.

2. They have the most potent venom of any snake. It's powerful enough to kill 100 grown men, which is impressive for a snake.

3. These breeds are found in Australia and the western taipan changes their skin colour seasonally.

4. Their bites are intended exclusively to kill mammals. Because they eat rats, mice, and small marsupials, this is the case. They bite more than once. They also consume a variety of birds when given the opportunity.

5. They usually live in arid regions of Australia, in an isolated environment. Because of their shyness, they were never discovered between 1882 and 1972. They are not, however, endangered or extinct.

6. Because of its strong venom, the inland taipan is also known as the "fierce snake" however, it is not aggressive by nature.

7. The inland taipan is a fast snake that may bite up to eight times in one strike. It retreats and waits till the victim dies inside the soil crack before returning to ingest it.

8. Inland taipans are rarely encountered by humans in the wild, and bites are quite rare and the inland taipans or even the Indian Taipans, bites only when they feel attacked and act in self-defence. In the absence of antivenin, humans die 30 to 45 minutes after being attacked.

9. Inland taipan can live in captivity for up to 20 years.