The coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus), or common taipan, is a species of extremely venomous snake in the family Elapidae. Described by Wilhelm Peters in 1867, the species is native to the coastal regions of northern and eastern Australia and the island of New Guinea. The second-longest venomous snake in Australia, the coastal taipan averages around 2.0 m (6.6 ft) long, with the longest specimens reaching 2.9 m (9.5 ft) in length. It has light olive or reddish-brown upperparts, with paler underparts. The snake is considered to be a least-concern species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
Considered venomous. Public sources list it as such; we have not verified this individually. The note covers its whole genus. Taipans (Oxyuranus) Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Demansia papuensis — venomous
- Pseudonaja nuchalis — considered venomous
- Pseudonaja textilis — considered venomous
- Pseudonaja affinis — considered venomous
- Dendroaspis polylepis — considered venomous
- Demansia vestigiata — venomous
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Family
- Elapidae
- Genus
- Oxyuranus
- Species
- Oxyuranus scutellatus
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