While called an adder they are not a true adder and instead form part of the elapid group as most venomous Australian snakes do. Common Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus) Other common names: Death Adder. Their colouration ranges from reddish brown to grey with lighter and darker bands running along the length of their body. In central Australia it is replaced by the desert death adder (A. pyrrhus) while to the north the northern death adder (A. praelongus) takes over. Young animals typically feed on frogs and small mammals. The lips are white with dark vertical stripes and its underbelly is white with dark flecks. 2020. The death adders diet consists primarily of small mammals, using a unique hunting strategy of laying in wait for up to days for its prey to pass than actively stalking. Also cane toads eat young death adders. Become involved in community-based projects (e.g. Common Death Adder (Acanthophis Antarcticus) Longevity, Ageing, And Life History. This varied colouration assists with camouflage when they are hunting. Typically birthing takes place from December to March (summer to early Autumn). Habitat. Template:Nofootnotes The Common Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus), is a species of Death Adder native to Australia. New South Wales: Pascal Press. A description of the Common Death Adder, Acanthophis antarcticus, a dangerously venomous species, with details of its distribution, habitat requirements and biology. Common death adders are found in forests, woodlands, grasslands and heaths of the eastern coast of Australia. Unlike other snakes, Common death adders lie in wait for its prey (often for many days) until a meal passes. Common death adder Acanthophis antarcticus. Cane toads are also a problem, as adult death adders eat them and die from the cane toad's poison. They make their home in open woodland, grasslands, rainforest, scrub and heathlands. Once this animal moves in try and eat the tail the common death adder will strike, potentially the quickest strike of any Australian snake and grab the food. At one end is the tail which begins to narrow and then ends with a curved spine which may be coloured white, yellow or black. Swanson, S. and Parish, S., 2011. [online] Available at: <, Genomics.senescence.info. They are ambush predators, meaning they lie in wait rather than actively hunting their prey. [online] Available at: [Accessed 21 June 2020]. They cover themselves with leaves-making themselves inconspicuous-and lie coiled in ambush, twitching their grub-like tail close to their head as a lure. [online] Available at: <, https://reptilepark.com.au/animals/reptiles/snakes/venomous/common-death-adder/, https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/animals/reptiles/common-death-adder/, https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Find+out+about/Animals+of+Queensland/Reptiles/Snakes/Common+and+dangerous+species/Common+Death+Adder, https://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/animal/death-adder, https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php. There are also several other species around the country with more restricted ranges. On average, the common death adder is betwee… The common death adder occurs over much of eastern and coastal southern Australia – Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Prior to the development of an antivenom 60% of common death adder bites would lead to death. Unlike the majority of venomous snakes which actively hunt prey the death adder prepares to sit and wait. The thin rat-like tail ends in a curved soft spine and the tip is cream or black. 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