Australian Death Adder

Common Death Adders live in eastern and south-western Australia. They are found in woodlands and forests, wetlands and in nearly every aspect of Australia that is damper and provides some ground cover.

The Death adder is among the most deadly of snakes, and its venom can kill in a very short time, however, it is susceptible to another venomous animal in Australia, the Cane Toad.

Common Death Adders shake their tail to lure prey close to them before they strike, and then strike at them, poisoning the animals, .

Common Death Adders eat small mammals, birds and reptiles, sometimes other snakes even.

To find the right prey, the Death Adder flicks its tongue in and out, literally tasting the air around them to find the correct size and prey food. They also rely on their keen eyesight, but not to the degree that they find it with their tongues.

The Common Death Adder attracts the prey, brings it in closer to them by twitching their tails as if they themselves were prey.

They then strike with their mouth and inject venom into their prey from their fangs. They swallow their prey whole.

Birds of prey and large reptiles eat Common Death Adders and seem to be too fast to be bitten, or in fact may be immune to the bit.

Common Death adders are very good swimmers and can be seen in the water, swimming with a side to side motion that slices through the water rapidly.

Common Death Adders have their young live, as opposed to those who lay eggs.

They give birth to about 5 to 20 young, who are born able to care for themselves.

The mother Death adder gives them no care at all.

The Death adder is considered to be the ninth most deadly snake in the world, and its poison attacks the nervous system and muscles, without changing their structure.

The Death adder is sometimes called the Deaf adder instead because even when it hears the approach of humans it will remain in place where it is and not slither away as many other snakes do.