La vipère de la mort (Acanthophis antarcticus) est un serpent venimeux qui vit dans les prairies, les forêts et la brousse de l'est et du sud de l'Australie. Dotée d'une tête plate et triangulaire, d'un corps ramassé et d'une queue agile, la vipère de la mort est recouverte de bandes brun clair, marron foncé et grises pour mieux se cacher parmi les feuilles et autres débris. En moyenne, elle mesure entre 70 et 100 cm de long.
Latin Name
Acanthophis antarcticus
Featured
false
Slug
common-death-adder
Site
Thumbnail
Image
Conservation Status
Animal Category
Region
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.