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 conditions 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.