Papuan Taipan
Oxyuranus scutellatus canni

"It is a large slender species with an elongated rectangular-shaped  head; distinct from narrow neck;  tail long and whip-like; eye moderate-sized with round pupil; and supraocular scale over eye sharply shelved, giving it a scowling expression.

The head of the Papuan Taipan is medium grey to black above, with lighter grey on the sides. The chin and throat are whitish, with the snout sometimes tan. The body is medium grey to black above, with a central streak of orange-tinged scutes. The belly is creamish, freely speckled. The tail is medium grey to blackish above and white to yellowish below. This distinctive colouration enables the Papuan Taipan to be easily identified. Among native Papuans, the Taipan is known as 'Dirioro' or 'Gobari' meaning 'the black snake with the red back'.

Papua's deadliest snake is found mainly in the two areas of savanna woodland vegetation - the Western District of Port Moresby and the coastal areas of he district stretching from near Kukipi to just east of Marshall Lagoon. This Taipan does not extend deep into forest areas but has been found at an altitude of 1,100 feet, near Sogeri inland from Port Moresby.

Like its Australian counterpart, the Papuan Taipan is shy, nervous and retiring but it will strike with speed and aggression if startled, threatened or molested, arching its body back, flattening the head and striking forward and upwards, often biting more than once in quick succession. It moves rapidly over the ground, often with the head and forepart of the body raised, and possesses the very acute senses which minimise human encounters. But when it is aroused it is known for characteristic rapid and multiple strike and release bites which may lead to enormous quantities of venom being injected.

The Papuan Taipan's preferred prey is mammals - rats, bandicoots and possibly ground-nesting birds. They have been found to shelter under boulders, in holes, on riverbanks and under concrete slabs.