Talk:Taipan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
Taipan is part of WikiProject Australia, which aims to improve Wikipedia's coverage of Australia and Australia-related topics. If you would like to participate, visit the project page. | ||
| ??? | This article has not yet received a rating on the quality scale. | ||
| ??? | This article has not yet received a rating on the importance scale. | ||
|
Article Grading: |
|||
|
WikiProject Australia To-do:
|
|||
The book I have (Living Snakes of the World) does not mention Oxyuranus microlepidotus but rather Parademansia microlepidotus (Smooth-scaled snake) which lives in New South Wales and Queensland. RedWolf 06:41, Aug 12, 2004 (UTC)
After reading this article, I have some questions. What regions of Australia are Taipans found? Where are Coastal Taipan found? Where are the 'Fierce Snake's found? What is their habitat? How many offspring do they have? How often? What times of year? -- CraigKeogh 06:28, 9 September 2005 (UTC)
This site [1] from the University of Melbourne explains that Taipans are not docile at all, and are in fact quite aggressive. The site also says that the range of the Taipan is from Darwin to Brisbane, mainly along the coast.
I can confirm that [at least the inland] taipans are or can be extremely aggressive. They have a reputation among the locals west of Cairns (north east coast of Australia) for attacking both animals and humans seemingly without reason. I've only ever seen an inland taipan once, and it was in captivity. As soon as we walked into the room, the young snake (maybe 6 months old, about half a meter long and very thin) immediately began striking in our direction, smashing it's head over and over into the wall of the glass box, we could see venom sliding down the side of the glass and it didn't stop until we left the room. The guy who owned/looked after the snakes said if you stay in there long enough, it will eventually injure itself to the point of bleeding. I've seen coastal taipans a few times in the wild, and while they've never attacked me they also never fled or attempted to hide like most other snakes. Rather they simply watched me to see what I'd do next. Since I was usually at least an hour from any medical help I've always left the area immediately. --Abhi Beckert 08:51, 25 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Pic
Is it possible to get a picture on Wiki. Mike.
Hi Mike, If you would like to upload an image, you have to sign up first. It is very easy and, of course, free. We would really appreciate your image. Thanks --liquidGhoul 14:41, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
I might be able to organize a picture, I know someone who has many snakes in captivity, and he had a young inland taipan last time I visited (over a year ago). Abhi Beckert 08:40, 25 May 2006 (UTC)
Hello, I just uploaded a picture of an Inland Taipan into this page. I took this photgraph while on holiday in Australia. The specimen was on display at the Manly Beach Aquarium near Sydney, and this was as close as they would let me get.--Merkurix 16:05, 18 July 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Diet
It is NOT specialised to feed on rodents - not unless they got specialised in 200 years, which is about as long as rodents have been in Australia since Europeans introduced them. What did they eat before that?
[edit] Some fallacies in this discussion
I have just read some incorrect information posted as truth.
"Parademansia microlepidota" is old taxonomy. It has since been classified as been a Taipan (Oxyuranus). It occurs in North Eastern SA, North Western NSW and South Western QLD. It is not believed to occur in NT. There are very old, possibly incorrect records of them occuring near the junction of the Murray/Darling river.
Whilst Coastal Taipans are not "docile", they are not an agressive species. No snake is. Coastal Taipans are highly intelligent animals and when provoked, can move with lighting speed and amazing accuracy. They are by far the most dangerous species for a snake handler to work with. In the bush, they will normally be gone without a trace if there is any disturabance.
Abhi Beckert, I suggest you learn more about herpetology before posting. There are no Inland Taipans west of Cairns.
The reason the young Inland Taipan was striking was because it was feeling vulnerable. You would, too, if you were locked in an enclosure. Small pythons will do the same thing. The liquid on the glass would have been saliva. The amount of venom a juvenile Inland Taipan produces (less than 1mg) wouldn't be noticeable.
Taipans are specialised mammal feeders, mainly rodents. Before white man settled, they would prey solely on native animals, now they have a wider selection.
- This was the only page which Abhi Becket posted, I doubt he/she is still contributing to Wikipedia. If you find any wrong information in the articles (not the talk pages), please change them to the correct info. Thankyou for setting everything straight. --liquidGhoul 08:20, 23 November 2006 (UTC)
