Western Desert Taipan

(Oxyuranus temporalis)

This description inserted March 2007

The only specimen of this slender snake known was collected on 22^nd September 2006 to the east of the Walter James Range, Western Australia. It is a female measuring 97 cm, although we expect this species to attain close to two metres in length. We know little about it’s ecology apart from the collection data: it was captured on a hot sunny day crossing a dirt road on a deep sandy flat with open low mallee and grevillea over diverse shrubbery dominated by spinifex.

Body colour light brown with darker olive-grey variegations. Head creamy-brown and much paler than body. Belly yellowish-white with slight spotting towards head.

We expect this snake to be dangerously venomous, as are the other two taipans currently known: Coastal and Inland.

Western Desert Taipan. The holotype (WAM R166250) from near Walter James Range. The only known specimen at this time.

Photos by Bruce Budrey

Note the very pale head.

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