Death adder, or common death adder, is one of Australia’s most dangerous snakes. The name death adder can also refer to a group of venomous (poisonous) snakes of Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and other nearby islands, which includes the common death adder.
The common death adder, like other death adder species, has a stout, viperlike body with a broad head, small neck, and thin, short tapering tail. The common death adder is usually less than 3 feet (1 meter) long. But it has large fangs and strong venom. In fact, its venom ranks among the deadliest of all snake venoms. Most common death adders are gray or brown and have irregular darker crossbands. They usually spend the day hiding in sand or under fallen leaves. They hunt at night and eat lizards and small mammals. They live in New Guinea and most parts of the Australian mainland.
