Inland Taipan - World’s Most Venomous Snake Whose One Bite can Kill 100 Humans

Inland Taipan is an Australian snake species known for its deadly venom that can kill up to 100 people in a single bite. This snake inhabits the black soil plains in the Queensland and South Australian borders. The inland taipan is a dark tan in colour with distinctly visible scales and one of its unique features is that its colour changes according to the seasons.

The inland taipan is called the “fierce snake” because of its lethal venom. It only strikes mammals in the early hours of the day. We have shared further details about this snake species and the effects of its venom here.

Inland Taipan - Overview

The inland taipan is an extremely dangerous native Australian snake species which is known for its lethal venom. Its venom is most toxic than any other snake species and holds enough poison to kill about 100 fully grown humans or 250,000 mice in a single bite. The inland taipan is agile and fast and strikes mammals with accuracy.

Despite it being the most toxic snake species in the world, the inland taipan is quite reclusive and doesn’t attack humans unless provoked. Here, we have shared some more details about this fierce snake.

Taipan Snake - Facts

The inland taipan is a fascinating snake species found in Australia. This snake is known for its deadly venom, which can kill up to 100 people in one go. Its venom is so poisonous that it is also called the “fierce snake”. Here are some amazing facts about the inland taipan snake:

• This snake feeds on small and medium-sized mammals and forages in the early morning hours.
• The venom of the inland taipan snake is specially adapted to kill warm-blooded animals.
• Although considered deadly, this snake is of a shy temperament and mostly prefers to stay below the ground.
• The Fierce Snake only strikes when provoked as a defence response.
• The inland taipan venom consists of multiple toxins which get quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, collapse, and even paralysis.

Inland Taipan - Features

The inland taipan is a unique snake species found predominantly in Australia. The taipan snake has several distinct features, such as the following:

• This snake is of a robust, medium to large build, whose average length measures around 2 meters.
• The skin colour of the inland taipan changes seasonally, with it being a dark tan colour in the summer months, and a pale colour in the winter months.
• The colour of the neck and head of this snake is usually much darker than the rest of the body.
• The eye size of this snake is large, and it has a round pupil and a very dark iris.
• The inland taipan has small but distinctly visible scales that run around its entire body. It is also called the small-scaled snake.

Inland Taipan - Venom Effects

The venom of the inland taipan is among the most dangerous in the world. Every time it envenomates, it spews around 44 mg to 110 mg of poison, which is enough to kill 100 humans at once. The inland taipan snake venom consists of multiple toxins, listed in the table below:

Effects of Envenomation

The inland taipan snake is extremely agile and strikes in quick succession. Its one bite releases enough toxins to kill around 100 human beings. Here are the symptoms that one may experience after being bitten by an inland taipan:

• Headache
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Paralysis
• Collapse

Inland Taipan Snake - Seasonal Adaptation

The inland taipan seasonally adapts to the climate by changing its skin colour. The snake alternates between a dark tan colour in the cooler months and a pale colour in the cooler months. It is assumed that the inland taipan changes its skin colour to adapt to the temperature change.

Since the skin colour of the inland taipan changes seasonally, the dark colour helps keep it cool in the summer. Similarly, the light skin colour allows it to stay warm during the winter.

Taipan Snake - Threat to Humans

Although the inland taipan is extremely dangerous because of its highly potent venom, it is not considered an immediate threat to human beings. This is because this snake species is reclusive and shy in nature. It prefers to stay in a solitary environment and is mostly found below the ground. The only time the inland taipan snake is spotted above the ground is in the early morning hours when it is out foraging.

Moreover, even when it is faced by humans, it stays calm. It only strikes as a defence response when it senses danger. It is reported that only a handful of humans have fallen prey to the inland taipan’s strike. Also, all of them recovered as a result of prompt medical care.

FAQs on Inland Taipan

Q1. Where is the inland taipan found?

The inland taipan is only found in Australia, specifically in the semi-arid regions and black soil plains between Queensland and South Australian borders. The inland taipan snake is only found in Australia and is unknown in other parts of the world.

Q2. How poisonous is the inland taipan?

The inland taipan is an extremely poisonous snake, whose venom can kill up to 100 people in one bite. The venom of this snake is so potent that it is also known as the “fierce snake”. On average, the inland taipan can spew anywhere from 44 mg and 110 mg of poisonous venom.

Q3. Why is inland taipan called the “fierce snake”?

The inland taipan is called the “fierce snake” because it has the deadliest venom that can kill up to 100 people in a single bite. This snake species hunts mammals and its venom is adapted to kill warm-blooded species easily. Although the inland taipan is deadly, it usually does not strike humans unless provoked.

Q4. Which snake is the most venomous in the world?

The inland taipan is one of the most venomous snakes in the world, whose single bite can envenomate badly enough to kill 100 fully grown humans at once. The inland taipan can spew between 44 mg to 110 mg of venom on average. Although this snake is deadly, it is not an immediate threat to humans because of its reclusive and shy nature.

Q5. What happens when an inland taipan bites you?

The bite of an inland taipan can cost a human its life, if not provided with immediate medical assistance. Here are the symptoms that a person experiences when bitten by an inland taipan snake:

• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Nausea
• Collapse
• Paralysis