Acanthophis antarcticus (Common Death Adder)

Elapid

The Common Death Adder is one of about seven species of death adder (Acanthophis) in Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands. The death adder is viper-like in appearance, having a short, robust body and triangular shaped head. Acanthophis means spine snake referring to the spine on the death adder's tail. While generally short the Common Death Adder may grow up to 70-100cm.

It is a clever snake that wiggles a little piece of it's tail amongst leaf litter or sand to imitate a worm. Birds and other small animals are dazzled by the ‘wriggling worm’ trick and become prey to the clever snake! It has the fastest strike of any snake.

Distribution: There have been a number of sightings around Tathra and Merimbula, but only record in ACT and scattered records on southern Monaro and Australian Alps.