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Western desert taipan

western desert taipan (Oxyuranus temporalis)
Great Victoria Desert, Western Australia
Photo © Jordan Vos
Oxyuranus temporalis - Doughty, Maryan, Donnellan & Hutchinson, 2007
Pronunciation  OX-ee-your-AH-nuss   temp-or-AH-liss
Etymology  Oxyuranus: 'pointy tail'.
temporalis: referring to the solitary primary temporal scale.1
Other names  Central Ranges taipan1
 
 
Total length
Species avg: 152 cm
Species max: 180 cm
Reproduction
Oviparous
Clutch size
Average: 7
Length and clutch size information comes from a variety of sources, but primarily from Shine (1991) and Cogger (2000).
Description Distribution Natural history Conservation Further information More photos

Range

The first individual of this species was collected on the eastern margin of the Walter James Range of Western Australia, near the borders of the Northern Territory and South Australia.1 It is likely the the species is also found in South Australia.

Several more specimens have since been recorded from the Ilkurlka Roadhouse and the Great Victoria Desert.2

In addition, an old record of a previously unidentified species has been shown to likely be this species.2 This record came from the George Gill Range in the Northern Territory.

Found in the following Australian states/territories

Western Australia, Northern Territory

Habitat

Spinifex and mallee on sandy soils.1 Sandy desert.2.

Notes and disclaimer
This information may not be complete. While all care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this page, primary sources should always be consulted for definitive information. Animals have an endearing habit of disobeying the rules, so the information on this page should be interpreted with a degree of flexibility.
The author and site operator accepts no responsibility for any losses or damages incurred through using this web site or the information contained herein. Don't get bitten by anything!
This page may be cited as:
  Oxyuranus temporalis at the Australian Reptile Online Database. Last updated 2017-02-23 14:56:00.
  Retrieved from http://arod.com.au/arod/?species=Oxyuranus+temporalis on the 28th of March, 2024.
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Copyright notice
This page, its content and layout are copyright © 2007-2024 Stewart Macdonald / Ug Media, unless otherwise stated.
All photographs in The Australian Reptile Online Database are © the photographer and may not be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the photographer.
No part of The Australian Reptile Online Database may be reproduced without written permission from Stewart Macdonald.
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