10 facts about the inland taipan
- The Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is regarded as one of the most venomous snakes in the world having the most potent venom of any terrestrial land snake.
- Very shy and cautious, the Inland Taipan is known to avoid any kind of trouble and strikes only when it feels threatened.
- The neurotoxins present in the venom of the animal are 50 times more reactive than that of cobra and can kill an adult human being in just about 45 minutes.
- The taipan has a round-snouted head and this portion is usually darker than the rest of the body.
- It is estimated that the snake can kill up to 250,000 mice with a single bite.
- Usually the Inland Taipan lays eggs in deep dark crevices or abandoned animal burrows.
- The population of the species in a particular area depends on its favorite food. It mostly depends on rats and if available in large quantities, its population increases in large numbers.
- This breed of snake is rarely known to bite humans although it is one of the longest snakes worldwide.
- This variety of snake is ‘milked’ for their venom by making them inject the venomous substance into a jar through a rubber cover. This venom serves as a major component to save people who are bitten by the snake.
- The dark markings present on the surface of the animal helps it to absorb heat during the winters and to reverse the process during the summers.
