Coastal taipan venomous snake in Australia. Adult specimens of this species typically attain sexual maturity around in total length (including tail). More mature specimens can grow to between . Other taipans, including the inland taipan, attain broadly similar sizes although they tend to be slightly smaller in average size. A specimen of an average total length weighs around . According to the Queensland Museum, the longest recorded total length for the coastal taipan was a specimen that was and weighed . However, though exceptionally rare, much larger specimens are widely believed to exist, including specimens of as much as . The taipan
Inland taipan the prey with a series of rapid, accurate strikes. It is known to deliver up to eight venomous bites in a single attack, often snapping its jaws fiercely several times to inflict multiple punctures in the same attack. Its more risky attack strategy entails holding its prey with its body and biting it repeatedly. This injects the extremely toxic venom deep into the prey. The venom acts so rapidly that its prey does not have time to fight back. In captivity it may also eat day-old chicks. Inland taipan produce clutches of between one and two dozen eggs. The eggs