Information by Scott from Year 5B at Rochedale State School. The Year 1 children have made up a neat story about Tiny the Taipan. Click here if you'd like to read their story.   HABITATThe taipan can be found in north and north-eastern Australia. The taipan lives in grasslands, rocky mountains and in warm temperatures, in tropical plains and rainforests. Western Australian taipans live in burrows. The taipan can also be found in sugar cane fields, farms and woodlands. They like to hide under pieces of fibro and timber around the farm. This snake does not live in areas where the average maximum winter temperature is below 18 degrees Centigrade.   FEEDINGThe favourite food of the taipan is rats. It also likes birds, lizards, bandicoots and any small mammals. The taipan does not swallow its prey live. It will strike at the animal and let it go and wait out of the way until the prey is dead before it eats it.     CHARACTERISTICSThe taipan is the most venomous snake in Australia. Male and female are both very aggressive if cornered. A lot of the time the taipan will keep away from humans. The male taipan grows up to 156cm and the female can grow up to 145cm. The taipan lays eggs and usually has 11 eggs. The newly hatched young snakes measure about 600mm in length. The taipan has the longest fangs of any Australian snake. They grow up to 11mm (half inch) long.   INFORMATION AND INTERESTING HABITSOxyuranus scutellatus is the correct name for the taipan. The taipan belongs to the Elapidae family of snakes. In Winter, the taipan's skin will go darker in colour. The taipan is generally more active in the early mornings and late afternoon. This is why it eats at night when small mammals are asleep.   Click here for some questions about the Taipan.   Click here to return to Australian Animal's Page Click here to return to Rochedale State School's Home Page These pages are maintained and created by Glenda Crew.