La víbora de la muerte (Acanthophis antarcticus) es una serpiente venenosa que vive en las praderas, bosques y matorrales del este y sur de Australia. Tiene una cabeza plana y triangular, el cuerpo achaparrado y una cola que se estrecha bruscamente, además de un patrón de rayas de color marrón claro, marrón oscuro y gris para pasar desapercibida entre las hojas muertas u otro substrato. De media, la víbora de la muerte mide entre 70 y 100 cm.
Latin Name
Acanthophis antarcticus
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common-death-adder
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Animal Facts
The common death adder has the longest fangs of any Australian venomous snake.
The common death adder hides under leaf litter for long periods of time, twitching its grub-like tail to lure prey, and strikes when any unsuspecting animals move across its hiding place.
The common death adder has the fastest strike of all venomous snakes in Australia.
Although highly venomous, the common death adder is not aggressive and is rarely a danger to humans.
It is thought that the name 'death adder' was originally 'deaf adder' because common death adders, like all snakes, cannot hear airborne sounds and instead feel vibrations on the ground.