Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus)

The Coastal Taipan (*Oxyuranus scutellatus*), aka Common Taipan, is a medium to large (typical length 2m) species of extremely venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to the coastal regions of northern and eastern Australia and the island of New Guinea. According to most toxicological studies, this species is the third-most venomous land snake in the world after the Inland Taipan and Eastern Brown Snake based on its murine LD50.

The snake has a robust build and a deep, rectangular-shaped head distinct from the slender neck. Body colour may be yellowish, reddish brown, dark brown or almost black. The species undergoes a seasonal change in colour, with individuals becoming darker in winter and fading in summer. The head is noticeably paler than the body, particularly in juveniles (the head will darken with age however the snout always remains pale). Dorsal scales may be slightly keeled, at least on the neck, otherwise smooth. The ventral surface is yellowish to cream with scattered orange blotches. Eyes are large, with an intense orange-brown iris and round pupil.

The Coastal Taipan is often regarded as the most dangerous snake in Australia. They are extremely nervous and alert snakes, and any movement near them is likely to trigger an attack. Like any snake the Taipan prefers to avoid conflict and will quietly slip away if given the chance, however if surprised or cornered it will ferociously defend itself.

When threatened, the Coastal Taipan adopts a loose striking stance with its head and forebody raised. It inflates and compresses its body laterally (not dorso-ventrally like many other species) and may also spread the back of its jaws to give the head a broader, lance-shaped appearance. Invariably the snake will strike, often without any warning, inflicting multiple snapping bites with extreme accuracy and efficiency. The muscular lightweight body of the Taipan allows it to hurl itself forwards or sideways and reach high off the ground, and such is the speed of the attack that a person may be bitten several times before realizing the snake is there.

This species is sometimes confused with one of several large brown-coloured elapids, such as the Eastern Brown Snake (*Pseudonaja textilis*), Western Brown Snake (*P. nuchalis*), and the Mulga Snake (*Pseudechis australis*). The Taipan is usually distinguished by its pale face and snout, large head and slender neck (in brown snakes and mulga snakes the face/snout is usually the same colour as or darker than the body, and the smaller head is as thick as the neck or only slightly distinct).