Common Death Adder
Acanthophis antarcticus

Length:

to 75cm

Identification:

body stocky, head arrowed-shaped. Tail tapers rapidly and bears a spur-like scale at tip. Back any shade of grey to reddish-brown, usually with lighter bands; belly greyish to cream.

Scale Counts:

midbody scale rows 21-23; ventrals 110-135; anal single; subcaudals, mostly single, some divided at tail -tip 35-60.

Habitat:

wet and dry eucalypt forests, woodlands and coastal heaths.

Distribution:

eastern Australia (excluding far north and south) and southern SA and WA.

Status:

rare or insufficiently known; declining.

Habits:

encountered both day and night; usually motionless, concealed in leaf-litter.

Breeding:

live-bearer (up to 42 young); average sount-vent length of new-borns 12cm.

Main Prey:

frogs, Cane Toads (with fatal results), small reptiles, birds and mammals.

Venom:

strongly neurotoxic.

Notes:

potentially dangerous; apply first aid and seek urgent medical attention for all suspected bites; responsible for human deaths.

Similar Species:

Three other species of death adders (A. praelongus , A. hawkei and A. pyrrhus) are known to occur in Qld. Distinguishing between them is difficult, even when specimens are available.