TAIPAN BITE CRACK

This species goes through “boom-and-bust” cycles, breeding up to plague proportions during the good seasons and virtually disappearing during times of drought. The favoured prey of the Inland Taipan is the Long-haired Rat Rattus villosissimus. In cooler weather the snakes may also be found active in the afternoon. They are most active in the early half of the morning, briefly basking and foraging in or near deep soil cracks and animal burrows, before retiring to shelter for the rest of the day. The species is primarily, if not exclusively, diurnal in its activity on the surface.

In captivity Fierce Snakes may also accept day-old chicks in addition to rats and mice. The venom acts so rapidly that the snake can afford to hold on to its prey instead of releasing (to avoid injury) and waiting for it to die.

TAIPAN BITE CRACK

Prey is usually cornered in a burrow or soil crack before being bitten several times in quick succession.

In the wild Inland Taipan appear to feed entirely on small to medium-sized mammals, particularly the Long-haired Rat Rattus villosisimus, as well as the introduced House Mouse Mus musculus and various small dasyurids.

The seasonal change in body colouration presumably helps the Inland Taipan to warm up quickly during the cooler months (dark colour) and avoid overheating in the warmer months (pale colour). Road-killed specimens have been found in 'winter', hence the species is presumably active on the surface at this time of year.

Taipan bite