Common Death Adder (Acanthopis antarcticus)

The Common Death Adder (*Acanthopis antarcticus*) is a small (typical length 1.0m) species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae, native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. It is found throughout eastern Australia, with the exception of the far north and south, and southern SA and WA. The snake has has a stocky body with a large triangular head and small, inconspicuous eyes. Its tail tip is thin, ends with a short spine, and is either cream or black. The back can be shades of grey to reddish-brown and is usually marked with lighter bands, while the belly is greyish to cream.

A sluggish terrestrial snake, the common death adder is diurnal and nocturnal, although night activity is dependent on temperature. The species is secretive and relies on cryptic colouration to avoid detection. It will ambush prey by resting coiled and motionless while half-buried in sand, soil or litter and twitches its tail to mimic the movement of a worm. This attracts the attention of potential prey. Its diet consists mostly of lizards and small mammals, and to a lesser extent, birds and frogs.