Common Death Adder

## Description

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.

## Appearance

The Common death adder is a species of death adder native to Australia. It is one of the most venomous land snakes in Australia and globally. These snakes have a broad flattened, triangular head and a thick body with bands of red, brown and black with a grey, cream or pink belly. Death adders possess the longest fangs of any Australian snake.

## Distribution

Common death adders occur over much of eastern and coastal southern Australia - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. They are more scarce in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and the west parts of South Australia. These snakes are found in forests, woodlands, grasslands, and heaths of the eastern coast of Australia.

## Behavior

Common death adders are solitary and nocturnal creatures. They spend their days burrowed into soft soil or leaf litter. These snakes are masters of camouflage, due to their band stripes, and easily hide beneath loose leaf litter and debris in woodland, shrubland, and grassland. Unlike other snakes, Common death adders lie in wait for its prey (often for many days) until a meal passes. They cover themselves with leaves-making themselves inconspicuous-and lie coiled in ambush, twitching their grub-like tail close to their head as a lure. When an animal approaches to investigate the movement, the death adder quickly strikes, injecting its venom and then waits for the victim to die before eating it. These snakes are not aggressive, yet their ambush hunting technique and reliance on camouflage rather than flight to avoid threats renders them more dangerous to humans who venture into bushland habitats.

## Venom

The common death adder venom contains highly toxic neurotoxin and it is of postsynaptic type which can cause paralysis or even death. It can deliver the fastest strike among all venomous snakes recorded in Australia. Human death can occur within six hours after the bite.

## Diet

Common death adders are carnivores and feed on small mammals, birds, frogs, and small reptiles.

## Reproduction

Common death adders mate in spring and unlike most snakes, these snakes produce litters of live young. In the late summer, a female will give birth to a litter of approximately 3-20 young. Females usually become reproductively mature at 3 to 4 years of age while males reach maturity when they are 2 years old.

## Population

### Population threats

Loss of habitat and the spread of invasive Cane toads in Australia are the main threats to these snakes. The toad eats young death adders and adult death adders that eat the toads are poisoned by the toxic glands on their skin, that is very deadly to Australian reptiles and die.

### Population number

According to IUCN, the Common death adder is widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.