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Death Adders In Western Australia |
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Death Adders In Western Australia |
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Dangerously Venomous They are an elapid snake having fixed front fangs even though they look like vipers. The death adders have large fangs which fold back along the jawline to a limited degree. There are three species in Australia. |
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Common or Southern Death Adder
Common
Death Adders vary in body colouration usually grey, orange or reddish (can vary in
the same clutch), but desert death adders are normally orange or red, and are
more slender. Their total length is approx .7m scales are smoother than the other death adders and
this snake is more robust. |
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This is the Common Death Adder found me at Mt Dale near Perth in December. It was seen on the road as I had stopped to photograph a large grasshopper. It was active and quickly moved away. Go Here to see our video of this Common or Southern Death Adder at Mt Dale. |
They live in a wide range of habitats
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They become duller in colour as they age. These Common or Southern Death Adders were photographed at the Armadale Reptile Centre in Perth. |
Males go in search of the females in the breeding season. They follow the scent trails left by the females. Litter of 2-33 young are born. Female death adders dont reproduce every year.
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What does it eat? This sluggish snake usually does not pursue its food but rather lies in wait under leaves. It may use the tip of its tail as a lure to attract attention, then when something is near enough the snake strikes with lightning speed. It coils its whole body in so that it can spring-out when striking. Hence bush walkers sometimes accidentally step on the death adder and it strikes. They feed on small reptiles, mammals, birds and frogs. The venom breaks down tissue. If it didn't a large prey could rot in the snake's stomach before it was fully digested.
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Desert or Pilbara Death Adders Acanthophis pyrrhus Desert death adders are not found around Perth and the common Death Adder is not found much further north than Perth. The Desert or Pilbara Death Adder is more slender reddish brown to rich red marked with dark flecks with dark cream to yellow bands. Tail tip is cream, yellow or black. The total length is .75m |
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This photograph was taken from the safety of my vehicle on Marble Bar Road in the Pilbara in December.
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This photograph was taken as a quick detour was made to avoid this snake in the Weano Gorge at Karijini National Park in the Pilbara. Litter of 13 young are born. |
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What does it eat? Feeds largely on lizards such as skinks and dragons. A common dragon in the Pilbara is this Ring-tailed Bicycle dragon photographed on Marble Bar Road. Go Here to see our page on this dragon.
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This is the sort of area that the Desert Death adders live in. This was taken along the roadside on Marble Bar Rd. |
This photograph was taken at the Armadale Reptile Centre. Here they have observed this snake staying still for days. |
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Photographed at Perth's Zoo. This is probably a Desert/Pilbara Death Adder.
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Northern Death Adders
I think this is a Northern Death Adder photographed at Perth's Zoo |
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The Northern Death Adders
are moderately robust. Prefers living in grasslands, woodlands, rocky ranges and outcrops of humid to subhumid far northern Australia. The female gives birth to approx 20 live young. Northern Death Adders can be active during the day when the weather is warmer. This snake has long fangs and may bite repeatedly.
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What does it eat? Probably eats birds, small mammals and reptiles although they would be different species to the desert or southern death adders.
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Text we found useful; |
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and graphical Copyright © Wildlife Education Services 2003. |
