Acanthophis
Sign in to saveAcanthophis is a genus of elapid snakes commonly referred to as death adders. They are native to Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands, and are among the most venomous snakes in the world. Despite their common name and resemblance to many species of vipers, they belong to a different family, the Elapidae.
Article
9 sectionsContents
- Taxonomy
- Species
- Description
- Origin of name
- Hunting
- Venom
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Acanthophis is a genus of elapid snakes commonly referred to as death adders. They are native to Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands, and are among the most venomous snakes in the world. Despite their common name and resemblance to many species of vipers, they belong to a different family, the Elapidae.
Eight species are listed by ITIS, though it remains unclear how many species this genus includes, with figures ranging from 4 to 15 species being quoted.