Snake Facts
  • Home
    • Types of Snakes
    • Boa vs Python difference
    • Do Snakes Have Bones?
    • How do Snakes Move?
    • What do Snakes Eat?
    • Do Snakes Lay Eggs?
    • Pit Vipers
    • Snake Facts for Kids
    • Snake Venom Facts
    • Snake Fangs
    • What is a Chicken Snake?
    • Mothballs and snakes
    • Biggest Snakes in the World
    • 10 Most Venomous Snakes in Africa
    • Deadliest Snakes in Australia
    • Big Four Deadliest Indian Snakes
    • Taipans The Most Venomous Snakes in the World
    • Florida Snakes
    • Snake Movies
  • Venomous
    • Rattlesnakes >
      • Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
      • Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
      • Mojave Rattlesnake
      • Sidewinder
      • Timber Rattlesnake
      • Pigmy Rattlesnake
      • Massasauga Rattlesnake
      • Prairie Rattlesnake
    • Taipans >
      • Inland Taipan
      • Coastal Taipan
      • Central Ranges Taipan
    • Cobras >
      • King Cobra
      • Monocled Cobra
      • Indian Cobra
      • Egyptian Cobra
      • Mozambique Spitting Cobra
      • Cape Cobra
      • Chinese Cobra
    • Kraits >
      • Common Krait
      • Blue Krait
    • Mambas >
      • Black Mamba
      • Eastern Green Mamba
    • Garter Snakes >
      • Eastern Gartersnake
      • California Red Sided Gartersnake
      • Checkered Gartersnake
    • Eastern Brown Snake
    • King Brown Snake
    • Death Adder
    • Red-Bellied Black Snake
    • Gaboon Viper
    • Tiger Snake
    • Puff Adder
    • Horned Viper
    • Boomslang
    • Rinkhals
    • Copperhead
    • Cottonmouth
    • Mamushi
    • Russell's Viper
    • Eyelash Viper
    • Golden Lancehead
    • Jararaca
    • Fer-de-Lance
    • Bushmaster
    • Mangrove Snake
    • Ringneck Snake
    • European Cat Snake
  • Non-Venomous
    • Anacondas >
      • Green Anaconda
      • Yellow Anaconda
    • Pythons >
      • Reticulated Python
      • African Rock Python
      • Ball Python
      • Blood Python
      • Burmese Python
      • Olive Python
      • Carpet Python
      • Woma Python
      • Black-headed Python
      • Children's Python
      • Spotted Python
      • Green Tree Python
      • White-Lipped Python
      • Australian Scrub Python
    • Boas >
      • Boa Constrictor
      • Rubber Boa
      • Rosy Boa
      • Kenyan Sand Boa
      • Arabian Sand Boa
      • Brazilian Rainbow Boa
      • Emerald Tree Boa
      • Amazon Tree Boa
      • Dumeril’s Boa
    • Water Snakes >
      • Banded Water Snake
      • Brown Water Snake
      • Diamondback Water Snake
      • Northern Water Snake
    • Milk Snakes >
      • Eastern Milk Snake
      • Honduran Milk Snake
    • Kingsnakes >
      • California Kingsnake
      • Mexican Black Kingsnake
      • Scarlet Kingsnake
    • Corn Snake
    • Southern Black Racer
    • Black Rat Snake
    • Texas Rat Snake
    • Fox Snake
    • Queen Snake
    • Blue Racer
    • Bullsnake
    • Brown Snake
    • Grass Snake
    • Gopher Snake
    • Pine Snake
    • Eastern Hognose
    • Western Hognose
    • Ribbon Snake
    • Red-Bellied Snake
    • Eastern Indigo Snake
    • Coachwhip
    • Rough Green Snake
    • Dragon Snake
    • Worm Snake
    • Rough Earth Snake
  • Prehistoric
    • Titanoboa
    • Gigantophis
  • Mythical
    • Tsuchinoko
    • Hoop snake
  • By name
  • Links
Picture

Central Ranges Taipan

Oxyuranus temporalis

Google
Custom Search


Central Ranges Taipan head
The Central Ranges Taipan (Oxyuranus temporalis), is a recently discovered species of taipan. The new snake species was found and described in 2007 by Australian researchers, and is a large, fast and highly venomous Australian snake.

The central ranges taipan discovery was a complete surprise since the other two species of taipan aren't found in that sandy desert habitat.This was the first new taipan snake species to be discovered in 125 years.

Further studies and phylogenetic analysis of its DNA sequences showed it to be the sister species of the 2 previously known taipans.

The Central Ranges taipan differs from the other 2 taipan species, the inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) and the coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus), because it lacks a temporal labial scale and has 6, not 7 infralabial scales.

The taipan snake species are considered some of the most venomous land snakes in the world. In fact, the inland taipan is regarded as the most venomous of all and the coastal taipan as the 3rd most venomous after the eastern brown (Pseudonaja textilis).

It is probable that the new species, the Central Ranges taipan is also highly venomous given its close relationship to the other 2 previously known taipan species. The fist specimen caught in 2007 was nicknamed "Scully" after the X-Files TV character.

It was an immature snake measuring about 3 ft (1 m), this means that scientists don't know the species adult size, although some taipans can reach a total length of about 10 ft (3 m).
​
Central Ranges Taipan - Oxyuranus temporalis
In early 2010, a second specimen was found, it was an adult female measuring 4.3 ft (1.3 m) and was captured by the Spinifex people, 425 kilometers south of the location of the initial discovery.

Because there are only 5 recorded specimens so far, with only 2 being kept in captivity, very little is known of its natural history, feeding and reproduction habits, or its venom.

But the species seems to be widespread, its specimens were found several hundred kilometers apart from each other. The areas in which this species was found are extremely remote and belong to Aboriginal Reserves, that are only accessible with special permits.
​
Diet / Feeding

Because the Central Ranges taipan is a recently discovered species, no information is available on their feeding habits. But we can assume that it probably feeds on rodents and small mammals like their cousin species.

Reproduction

Since this is a newly discovered species, no information is available on their reproduction.

Conservation / Threats

The species new conservation status has yet to be assessed by the IUCN Red List, as the data available is not 
sufficient.

Did You Know?

A group of snakes is called a bed, den, pit or nest, find more interesting facts about snakes for kids.

Picture
Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Oxyuranus
Species: O. temporalis
Central Ranges Taipan range
Central Ranges Taipan range
Picture
sharing is carring logo
© 2014 Snake Facts        About Us | Privacy Policy | Contact
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.