Common death adder

Common death adder
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Acanthophis
Species:
A. antarcticus
Binomial name
Acanthophis antarcticus
(Shaw, 1802)
Distribution of the common death adder in Australia
Synonyms
List
  • Boa antarctica
    Shaw, 1802
  • Acanthophis cerastinus
    Daudin, 1803
  • Acanthophis brownii
    Leach, 1814
  • Boa ambigua
    Leach, 1814
  • Ophryas acantophis
    Merrem, 1820
  • Vipera acanthophis
    Schlegel, 1837
  • Vipera sorda
    Salvado, 1851
  • Boa aculeata
    Boulenger, 1896

The common death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus) is a species of death adder, a venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia. It is one of the most venomous land snakes in Australia and globally. While it remains widespread (unlike related species), it is facing increased threat from the ongoing Australian cane toad invasion.

Taxonomy

The common death adder was first described as a species new to science in 1802 by English biologist George Kearsley Shaw, who named it Boa antarctica. Unlike the common European viper, the common death adder is a member of the snake family Elapidae, rather than the family Viperidae (vipers).

Description

The common death adder has a broad, flattened, triangular head and a thick body. Dorsally, its color pattern consists of crossbands of red, brown, and black on a lighter background. Ventrally, it is grey, cream, or pink. It is known to reach a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 70–100 cm (2.3–3.3 ft).

The dorsal scales are arranged in 21–23 rows at midbody. The ventrals number 113–130. The anal plate is entire. The subcaudals number 41–51, and are undivided (single) anteriorly but divided (paired) posteriorly.

Geographic distribution

The common death adder occurs abundantly over much of eastern and coastal southern Australia: Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. It is more scarce in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and the western parts of South Australia, and is no longer found in Victoria.

Habitat

The common death adder is found in forests, woodlands, grasslands, and heaths of the eastern coast of Australia. Thanks to its crossbands, the common death adder is a master of camouflage, hiding beneath loose leaf litter and debris in woodland, shrubland, and grassland.

Conservation concerns

Habitat loss and the spread of the invasive cane toad (Rhinella marina) are concerns. The cane toad eats young death adders, and adult death adders that eat the cane toad are poisoned by the toxic glands on the toad's skin.

Diet

The common death adder preys upon small mammals and birds as a primary diet. Unlike other elapids, the common death adder lies in wait for its prey (often for many days) until a meal passes. It covers itself with leaves, making itself inconspicuous, and lies coiled in ambush, twitching its grub-like tail close to its head as a lure. When an animal approaches to investigate the movement, the death adder quickly strikes, injecting its venom and then waiting for the victim to die before eating it. The common death adder is not aggressive toward humans, yet its ambush hunting technique and reliance on camouflage rather than flight to avoid threats renders it more dangerous than other elapids to humans who venture into bushland habitats.

Reproduction

Unlike most snakes, the common death adder produces litters of live young. In the late summer, a female common death adder will produce a litter of approximately 3–20 live offspring. However, over 30 young have been recorded in a single litter.

References

  1. ↑ Hobson, R.; Venz, M.; Sanderson, C.; Greenlees, M.; Dickman, C. (2018). "Acanthophis antarcticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018 e.T42492756A42492764. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T42492756A42492764.en. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  2. ↑ Australian Biological Resources Study (22 August 2013). "Species Acanthophis antarcticus (Shaw & Nodder, 1802)". Australian Faunal Directory. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  3. 1 2 Species Acanthophis antarcticus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Common Death Adder". Australian Reptile Park. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Boulenger, G.A. (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), Amblycephalidæ, and Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, Printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Acanthophis antarcticus, pp. 355–356).
  6. ↑ Clemann, Nick; Stranks, Timothy; Carland, Rebecca; Melville, J.; Op Den Brouw, Bianca; Robertson, Peter (2018). "The death adder Acanthophis antarcticus (Shaw & Nodder, 1802) in Victoria: historical records and contemporary uncertainty". Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 77. doi:10.24199/j.mmv.2018.77.03.
  7. ↑ "Common Death Adder". Australian Wildlife. Archived from the original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  8. ↑ "Death adders more endangered than dangerous". ABC Wide Bay. 2009-02-20. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2018.

Further reading