taipan

taipan

(tī-pan'),

A highly venomous (and most dangerous) snake in its geographic range. The coastal taipan, Oxyuranus scutellatus is found in northern and northeastern Australia and O. microlepidotus, the inland taipan, is found in New Guinea and the interior of Australia. Inland strain may be up to 10 ft long, whereas the coastal strain is usually no longer than 7 ft.

taipan

(tī′păn)

n.

Any of several large brown venomous elapid snakes of the genus Oxyuranus of Australia and New Guinea, especially O. scutellatus.

taipan

a very venomous snake because of its large output of highly poisonous venom; dark brown on the dorsum with creamy yellow belly. Called also Oxyuranus scutellatus.