Fierce snakes

The Fierce snake produces the most toxic venom of any snake in the world. Little is known about this snake in the wild except that it feeds on rats and may live in their burrows. Despite the name, it is not known to be more aggressive than any other snake. The true distribution of the fierce snake is unknown. It was thought to be limited to a small area in western Queensland, but there have been historical reports of it in northern New South Wales and even northern South Australia and Victoria.

Similar in body shape to the coastal taipan, the fierce snake may have a black head with faint banding on the body, especially towards the tail. The average length is around 1.7m and the maximum recorded size is 1.93m. Clutches of 9-12 eggs are produced and incubate for about 66 days

Fierce snake venom is also similar to that of the coastal taipan, although it is more toxic by weight. Similar clinical effects of paralysis and clotting disturbance are caused by envenomation. Average venom yield is 44mg, with a record yield of 110mg. All recorded bites to date have been to snake handlers and no deaths have been documented.