The common death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus) is a species of death adder native to Australia. It is one of the most venomous land snakes in Australia and globally. While it remains widespread (unlike related species), it is facing increased threat from the ongoing Australian cane toad invasion.
The common death adder was first described in 1802. The common death adder feeds on frogs, lizards and birds and, unlike most Australian venomous snakes that actively search for prey, this snake sits in one place and waits for prey to come to it.
Descriptionedit
The common death adder has a broad flattened, triangular head and a thick body with bands of red, brown and black with a grey, cream or pink belly. It can reach a maximum body length of 70–100 centimetres (2.3–3.3 ft). Death adders possess the longest fangs of any Australian snake. Unlike the common or European adder (Vipera berus), the common death adder is a member of the snake family Elapidae, rather than the family Viperidae, which are not found in Australia.[3]
Distribution and habitatedit
The common death adder occurs over much of eastern and coastal southern Australia – Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. It is more scarce in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and the west parts of South Australia, and is no longer found in Victoria.[3][4] It is also native to Papua.[1]
Common death adders are found in forests, woodlands, grasslands and heaths of the eastern coast of Australia. Thanks to its band stripes, the death adder is a master of camouflage, hiding beneath loose leaf litter and debris in woodland, shrubland and grassland.[3]
Concernsedit
Habitat loss and the spread of invasive cane toads are a concern. The toad eats young death adders and adult death adders that eat the toads are poisoned by the toxic glands on their skin.[5][6]
Dietedit
Common death adders eat small mammals and birds as a primary diet. Unlike other elapids, a common death adder lies in wait for its prey (often for many days) until a meal passes. It covers itself with leaves—making itself inconspicuous—and lies coiled in ambush, twitching its grub-like tail close to its head as a lure. When an animal approaches to investigate the movement, the death adder quickly strikes, injecting its venom and then waiting for the victim to die before eating it. Death adders are not aggressive, yet their ambush hunting technique and reliance on camouflage rather than flight to avoid threats render them more dangerous than other elapids to humans who venture into bushland habitats.[3]
Reproductionedit
Unlike most snakes, death adders produce litters of live young. In the late summer, a female death adder will produce a litter of live offspring, approximately 3–20; however, over 30 young have been recorded in a single litter.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abAllison, A. (2015). "Acanthophis rugosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T177483A79355114. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-3.RLTS.T177483A79355114.en.
^Australian Biological Resources Study (22 August 2013). "Species Acanthophis antarcticus (Shaw & Nodder, 1802)". Australian Faunal Directory. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
^ abcde. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
^ Clemann, N.; Stranks, T.; Carland, R.; Melville, J.; Op Den Brouw, B.; Robertson, P. (2018). "The death adder Acanthophis antarcticus (Shaw & Nodder, 1802) in Victoria: historical records and contemporary uncertainty". Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 77. doi:10.24199/j.mmv.2018.77.03.
^"Common Death Adder". Australian Wildlife. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
^"Death adders more endangered than dangerous". ABC Wide Bay. 2009-02-20. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Acanthophis antarcticus.
common, death, adder, common, death, adder, acanthophis, antarcticus, species, death, adder, native, australia, most, venomous, land, snakes, australia, globally, while, remains, widespread, unlike, related, species, facing, increased, threat, from, ongoing, a. The common death adder Acanthophis antarcticus is a species of death adder native to Australia It is one of the most venomous land snakes in Australia and globally While it remains widespread unlike related species it is facing increased threat from the ongoing Australian cane toad invasion Common death adderConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily ElapidaeGenus AcanthophisSpecies A antarcticusBinomial nameAcanthophis antarcticus Shaw 1802 Distribution of the common death adder in AustraliaSynonyms 2 List Boa antarctica Shaw amp Nodder 1802Acanthophis cerastinus Daudin 1803Acanthophis brownii Leach 1814Ophryas acantophis Merrem 1820Vipera sorda Salvado 1851Boa aculeata Boulenger 1896 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 3 1 Concerns 4 Diet 5 Reproduction 6 References 7 External linksTaxonomy editThe common death adder was first described in 1802 The common death adder feeds on frogs lizards and birds and unlike most Australian venomous snakes that actively search for prey this snake sits in one place and waits for prey to come to it Description editThe common death adder has a broad flattened triangular head and a thick body with bands of red brown and black with a grey cream or pink belly It can reach a maximum body length of 70 100 centimetres 2 3 3 3 ft Death adders possess the longest fangs of any Australian snake Unlike the common or European adder Vipera berus the common death adder is a member of the snake family Elapidae rather than the family Viperidae which are not found in Australia 3 Distribution and habitat editThe common death adder occurs over much of eastern and coastal southern Australia Queensland New South Wales and South Australia It is more scarce in the Northern Territory Western Australia and the west parts of South Australia and is no longer found in Victoria 3 4 It is also native to Papua 1 Common death adders are found in forests woodlands grasslands and heaths of the eastern coast of Australia Thanks to its band stripes the death adder is a master of camouflage hiding beneath loose leaf litter and debris in woodland shrubland and grassland 3 Concerns edit Habitat loss and the spread of invasive cane toads are a concern The toad eats young death adders and adult death adders that eat the toads are poisoned by the toxic glands on their skin 5 6 Diet editCommon death adders eat small mammals and birds as a primary diet Unlike other elapids a common death adder lies in wait for its prey often for many days until a meal passes It covers itself with leaves making itself inconspicuous and lies coiled in ambush twitching its grub like tail close to its head as a lure When an animal approaches to investigate the movement the death adder quickly strikes injecting its venom and then waiting for the victim to die before eating it Death adders are not aggressive yet their ambush hunting technique and reliance on camouflage rather than flight to avoid threats render them more dangerous than other elapids to humans who venture into bushland habitats 3 Reproduction editUnlike most snakes death adders produce litters of live young In the late summer a female death adder will produce a litter of live offspring approximately 3 20 however over 30 young have been recorded in a single litter 3 References edit a b Allison A 2015 Acanthophis rugosus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015 e T177483A79355114 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2015 3 RLTS T177483A79355114 en Australian Biological Resources Study 22 August 2013 Species Acanthophis antarcticus Shaw amp Nodder 1802 Australian Faunal Directory Canberra Australian Capital Territory Department of the Environment Water Heritage and the Arts Australian Government Retrieved 8 May 2019 a b c d e Common Death Adder Archived from the original on November 1 2012 Retrieved 1 December 2015 Clemann N Stranks T Carland R Melville J Op Den Brouw B Robertson P 2018 The death adder Acanthophis antarcticus Shaw amp Nodder 1802 in Victoria historical records and contemporary uncertainty Memoirs of Museum Victoria 77 doi 10 24199 j mmv 2018 77 03 Common Death Adder Australian Wildlife Retrieved 28 December 2018 Death adders more endangered than dangerous ABC Wide Bay 2009 02 20 Retrieved 28 December 2018 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Acanthophis antarcticus Reptile Park The Australian Zoo Archived 2009 07 05 at the Wayback Machine Natural Born Killers ITA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Common death adder amp oldid 1190934402, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
