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The Most Dangerous Venomous Snakes: Australia, New Guinea

Coastal Taipan

  • Scientific name: Oxyuranus scutellatus
  • Family: Elapidae
  • Genus: Taipans
  • Length: Up to 10.9 feet (3.35 meters)
  • Venom: Neurotoxic, myotoxic

At up to 0.5 inch (13 mm), the coastal taipan has the longest fangs of all Australian venomous snakes and is also the longest venomous snake in Australia. It is also the third most venomous snake in the world. One bite can kill up to 12,000 guinea pigs. Before an antidote was developed, its bite was 100% deadly. Compared to the inland taipan, the coastal taipan is a lot more aggressive and lives near people to prey on rats and other small animals.

Papuan Taipan

  • Scientific name: Oxyuranus s. canni
  • Family: Elapidae
  • Genus: Taipans
  • Length: Up to 9.8 feet (3 meters)
  • Venom: Neurotoxic

The Papuan taipan is a relative of the coastal taipan. Most deaths caused by snake bites in Papua New Guinea are caused by this snake. This is mostly due to the level of medical care in Papua New Guinea, which is not to the same standard as it is in Australia.

Coastal Taipan Coastal Taipan - Photo: reptiles4all/Shutterstock


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