The species is endemic to semi-arid regions of central east Australia. Photograph by imageBROKER, Alamy Weird Animal Question of the Week Weird Animal Question of the. In several aspects of morphology, ecology and behaviour, the common taipan is strongly convergent with an African elapid, Dendroaspis polylepis (the black mamba). The inland taipan ( Oxyuranus microlepidotus ), also commonly known as the western taipan, the small-scaled snake or the fierce snake, 6 is a species of extremely venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The inland taipan (pictured) is generally considered the most venomous snake in the world. However, antivenom treatment is highly effective. Mortality rate without treatment is second only to the black mamba, nearing 100%. The common taipan is often considered to be one of the deadliest species in the world. The danger posed by the coastal taipan was brought to Australian public awareness in 1950, when young herpetologist Kevin Budden was fatally bitten in capturing the first specimen available for antivenom research. Its venom contains Taicatoxin, a highly potent neurotoxin. The common taipan is the third-most venomous snake on Earth and arguably the largest venomous snake in Australia. No fatalities have been attributed to this species, and all known bites have been to people who keep them in captivity or actively seek them out in the wild. They are native to central and eastern Australia in dry areas and are commonly known as the western taipan, the small-scaled snake, or the fierce snake. The venom of one bite is strong enough to kill 100 men. Like most snakes, inland taipans are generally shy and will usually not bite unless they feel threatened. The inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is the most venomous snake in the world. This species generally lives in remote and sparsely inhabited areas. The venom from a single bite of the inland taipan might be potent enough to kill about 250,000 mice, or the mass-equivalent of 100 men. Calculated LD50 values might not be applicable to non-mammalian species, and may even be inaccurate for mammals other than mice and other rodents. The bias is emphasised in this species of snake, as it is specialised to feed on rodents. Lethal dose calculations are made on mice, so they have a murine bias. With an LD50 of 0.025 mg/kg, it is 20 times as venomous as a common cobra. The inland taipan is often considered to be the most venomous land snake.
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