Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus)
Adaptation
The Inland
Taipan lives in one of the most extreme environments on the
planet that means that the Taipan had to develop certain
adaptations in order to cope with its environment.
First off, the Taipan is reptile which means that it is cold
blooded or ectothermal. This means the snake uses and
external source and a primary means of heating its body,
mostly the heat from the sun. To avoid the
blistering
heat of the sun during really hot weather the Taipan is able
to become nocturnal which means that most of its activity
happens during the night. In cooler weather it will
hunt during the day and bask in the sun to warm its body.
The
Inland Taipan is known mostly for its venom. It has the
most toxic venom of any known land snake in the world which
helps to capture small, fast prey. When the snake corners
its victim, it injects it with its venom and lets go right away. Because of the venoms
potency, the prey becomes immobile very quickly which means that
the Taipan reduces the chances of getting damaged by a flailing
claws and sharp teeth. The Inland Taipan’s venom consists
of pre and postsynaptic neurotoxins, myotoxins, and
procoagulants. All of which you do NOT want in your body
otherwise you will suffer a quick painful death.