Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus)
Reproduction
The Inland Taipan is
like most other snakes when it comes to reproduction.
The Taipan is oviparous meaning that the snake lays
amniotic eggs vs. viviparous where the organism gives birth to
live young. A female Inland Taipan can
produce two clutches of eggs in a single year if conditi
ons are
favorable. The mating occurs within the
months of July and December. Unlike a lot of
species of snake, for example the Boa Constricter, the female is
usually the larger of the sexes, but the Inland Taipan the male
is usually the larger of the sexes. However,
the male reaches sexual maturity before the female at around 16
months and the female at about 28 months. It
is suggested that this is because of the reproductive costs in
the males and females.