Inland taipan
The most venomous snake, shy and reclusive in remote Australia.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is a highly venomous elapid snake found only in the semi-arid parts of central-eastern Australia. It goes by several other names: the western taipan, the small-scaled snake, and the fierce snake. Aboriginal people in areas where Karnic languages are spoken call it dandarabilla. The species was first validly described by Frederick McCoy in 1879 as *Diemenia microlepidota*; a later 1882 description by William John Macleay as *Diemenia ferox* is considered a junior synonym. It remained largely unknown to science for nearly 90 years, with only three specimens collected in the 19th century, and almost nothing was learned about its biology until it was rediscovered in 1972.
Based on tests measuring the median lethal dose (LD50) of its venom in mice, the inland taipan is widely considered the world's most venomous snake. Drop for drop, its venom is among the most toxic of any snake tested, though some sea snakes have shown comparable or slightly higher toxicity in certain studies. It also has the most toxic venom of any reptile when tested on human heart cell cultures. This snake is a specialized mammal hunter, and its venom is specifically adapted to killing warm-blooded prey. A single bite is estimated to contain enough venom to kill over 100 adult humans.
Despite this extreme potency, the inland taipan is typically shy and reclusive, with a generally calm temperament. It rarely encounters people because it lives in remote areas. In contrast, the coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) is often considered more dangerous in practice, mainly because of its behavior around humans and its proximity to populated coastal regions. The word "fierce" in one of the inland taipan's common names refers to the strength of its venom, not its disposition.
**Taxonomy**
Among the Aboriginal people from the area now known as Goyder Lagoon in northeastern South Australia, the inland taipan was traditionally called dandarabilla. It was first collected scientifically in 1879, when two specimens were obtained at the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers in northwestern Victoria. Frederick McCoy described them as *Diemenia microlepidota*, the "small-scaled brown snake," which is now recognized as the valid description of the species. In 1882, a third specimen was collected near Bourke, New South Wales, and William John Macleay describ
- Scientific name
- Oxyuranus microlepidotus
- Family
- Elapidae
- Common names
- Inland taipan, western taipan, small-scaled snake, fierce snake
- Native range
- Semiarid regions of central‑eastern Australia
- Venom ranking
- Most venomous snake in the world (by LD50 in mice)
- Conservation status
- Least concern (IUCN, 2018)
Lore & Background
The inland taipan was first validly described by Frederick McCoy in 1879 as *Diemenia microlepidota*; a later 1882 description by William John Macleay as *Diemenia ferox* is a junior synonym. For almost 90 years it remained poorly known to science; only three specimens were collected in the 19th century, and virtually nothing was added to knowledge of its biology until the species was rediscovered in 1972. Aboriginal Australians living in areas where Karnic languages are spoken refer to this species as dandarabilla. The species was first collected scientifically in 1879 from two specimens at the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers in north‑western Victoria. In 1882 a third specimen was collected near Bourke, New South Wales, and Macleay described it as *Diemenia ferox*, but this name is a junior synonym of McCoy's 1879 description.
Reader's Guide
The inland taipan is significant primarily for its venom, which is the most toxic of any snake when tested on human heart cell cultures and can kill more than 100 adult humans in a single bite. Its venom is particularly adapted to killing warm-blooded prey, as it is a specialised predator of mammals. Despite this, the species is not considered the most dangerous in practice; the coastal taipan is often considered more dangerous due to its behaviour and proximity to populated coastal regions. The word 'fierce' in one of its common names refers to the strength of its venom rather than its temperament. The species was rediscovered in 1972 after a grazier sent an unclassified snake head to the Queensland Museum, leading herpetologists to locate 13 live specimens. Its conservation status is least concern globally, though it is presumed extinct in New South Wales and regionally extinct in Victoria. The inland taipan is held in zoos in Australia, North America, Europe, and Asia, and in New South Wales private ownership requires the highest class of venomous reptile licence.
Did You Know?
- The inland taipan's venom is substantially more toxic, drop-for-drop, than that of any tested sea snake.
- A single bite has been estimated to contain sufficient venom to kill more than 100 adult humans.
- The species was rediscovered in 1972 after a grazier sent an unclassified snake head to the Queensland Museum.
- The word 'fierce' in its common name refers to the strength of its venom, not its temperament.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Inland taipan?
The Inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is a highly venomous elapid snake found only in the semi-arid interior of central-eastern Australia. It also goes by the names western taipan, small-scaled snake, and fierce snake, while some Aboriginal Karnic-speaking communities call it dandarabilla.
Why is the Inland taipan called the most venomous snake?
When its venom is measured by LD50 in laboratory mice, it ranks above every other snake species on the planet in toxicity. Despite that extreme potency, the animal is famously shy and reclusive, so direct human encounters remain exceedingly rare.
Where does the Inland taipan live?
Its range is confined to the dry, sparsely populated scrublands of central-eastern Australia. That isolation and the snake's secretive, ground-level behaviour kept it effectively hidden from researchers for decades after its first formal descriptions.
What is the Inland taipan's conservation status?
The IUCN currently classifies the species as Least Concern (2018 assessment). Because it occupies remote terrain with very little human development, it faces few of the direct pressures that threaten more accessible reptile species.
Why is the Inland taipan a landmark in herpetology?
Although Frederick McCoy described it in 1879 and William John Macleay repeated the description in 1882, no further specimens were collected and almost nothing was learned about its biology for nearly ninety years. Its eventual rediscovery made it one of the most celebrated cases of a 'lost' reptile being recovered into active scientific study.
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