Inland taipan Wombey argued that "Parademansia microlepidotus" belongs to a distinct genus, and this was also the opinion of Harold Cogger. Covacevich, McDowell, Tanner & Mengden (1981) successfully argued, by comparing anatomical features, chromosomes and behaviour of the two species then known as "Oxyuranus scutellatus" (taipan) and "Parademansia microlepidota", that they belonged in a single genus. "Oxyuranus" (1923), the more senior name, was adopted for the combined genus. "Oxyuranus microlepidotus" has been the fierce snake's binomial name since the early 1980s. The generic name, "Oxyuranus", means "oxus" (Greek) "sharp pointed", "oura" (Greek) "tail"; "-anus" (Latin) "belonging to", and refers to the inland
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