#acanthophis

[herpsandbirds]

Common or Southern Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus), family Elapidae, southern WA, Australia

Venomous.

Photographs by Andrea Ruggeri

[snakebusters]

Acasnthophis granti Hoser, 2014 Details at: https://www.smuggled.com/issue-23-pages-22-34.pdf

[lancedoncrimsonwings]

So Viago de Riva owns Death Adders right? (Acanthophis antarcticus)

I'm 99% certain the snake Lucanis owns is an Adder too. Though I've decided he owns their slightly less deadly cousin, the European Adder (Vipera berus) purely because they're one of my favourite species of snake.

I got to tattoo a pair on a client the other day!!!

(Well, we had somewhere to be straight after so I only shaded the male but we'll add the browns on the female later. Healed newts, frog and stag beetle done by me, butterfly and dragonfly done by someone else)

When work and fandom collide.

I need to do some Adder based Lucanis and Viago fan art, don't I?

[great-and-small]

One of the more esoteric things that I am really really into is reptile eponyms, and since it’s a topic that most people aren’t very familiar with, I want to share just a couple with you:

The skink species Lerista amicorum was discovered and named by a pair of Australian zoologists who are also best friends. The species name is Latin for “of the friends” in honor of their friendship and discovery together

The gecko species Lepidodactylus buleli was named in an article describing the new species in 2006, but nobody knows what the species name “bulel” is referencing. The etymology states “The specific epithet buleli is given by the author as a reference to a personal and private story and has no particular signification related to the species, its characteristics, geographical origin, or biology.” Some sort of scientist inside joke I guess you had to be there

There is a species of death adder with the proposed* name Acanthophis crotalusei which is in honor of the author’s pet dog, Crotalus. In case you didn’t know, Crotalus is the name of a completely different genus of snake, so using it for a death adder is unforgivably confusing. (*There is some very complicated herpetology drama behind this story)

The Martin Garcia least gecko Sphaerodactylus ladae is named in honor of the discoverers rental car, a Russian LADA.

[moscahbriar]

some more spec bio! this was a quick drawing so its not the best reference but this is for the diamond death adder (scientific name tba). its from the genus Acanthophis - the death adders - and is found in Ohcea, the home to the genus in general. specifically, its found in North Ohcea. they're an endangered species, and like other death adders rather dangerous. i dont have an exact size yet, but i imagine they're usually around a couple feet long!

[dailydoseofdeadly]

Southern Death Adder

Name: Southern Death Adder

Scientific Name: Acanthophis antarcticus

Family: Elapidae 

Size: 31-36 inches long

Habitat: Various regions of Australia

Fatalities: At least 5 recorded deaths in the last century

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Fun Fact: Death adders have the longest fangs of any Australian snake 

If you happen to cross paths with one of these Aussies, their name tells you what your fate may be. Death Adder. Think about it. Inhabiting Australia and its nearby islands, the death adder is among some of the most venomous snakes in the world. Being a part of the Elapidae family, it shares a family tree with black mambas, cobras, kraits, and coral snakes. And just by looking at some of its relatives, you can already assume what the Death Adder has in its fangs, ready to inject into anyone or anything that seems like a threat… or dinner. 

The Death Adder’s distinct appearance includes a triangular, spade-like head, a thick and short body, and a thin tail that it uses to lure prey. The snake is brownish gray with darker rings across the length of its body. Don’t be fooled by the length of this creature though. Even though most Death Adders barely surpass 3 feet long, they carry some of the most potent venom in the animal kingdom, killing every other person they bit before the creation of an antivenom. Like its cousins the mambas, cobras, and kraits, the Death Adder carries a strong neurotoxin that can cause severe paralysis in those envenomated. 

If you get bitten, seek immediate medical care. 

Even though there is an anti-venom for the bite of a Death Adder, don’t start planning that trip to Australia so quickly right now. Studies by the Australian Snakebite Project show that while Death Adder antivenom does stop the circulation of the venom throughout the body, it does not diminish the neurotoxic effects of the venom until almost a day later. This study also concludes that Death Adder venom is a presynaptic neurotoxin, instead of a postsynaptic one. I’m going to pretend I know what I’m talking about right now because I took AP Biology, but if you want a more in-depth explanation of the difference between pre- and postsynaptic neurotoxicity, I would recommend the Internet. Basically, the synapse is where chemicals (neurotransmitters) that communicate with other neurons are kept. The synaptic gap is a space between two neurons where these neurotransmitters are released. Acetylcholine is the most known neurotransmitter and is responsible for involuntary muscle movement or your reflexes. Presynaptic neurotoxins inhibit or block these neurotransmitters from being released from the synapse. The neurotransmitters don’t even get released. However, with postsynaptic neurotoxins, these neurotransmitters do get released into the gap, but they can't bind to the binding sites on the other neuron to create a neural impulse on the other neuron. The toxins block the binding sites. That’s my explanation, it’s probably not right, but I did try. 

Image from the University of Melbourne

[orochimaruanon]

Orochi-san, I have just been informed that a new species of shark has been discovered! It's called the Demon Catshark, and this pleases me greatly as I am inclined towards marine biology and the like. I wanted to ask, if you discovered a new species of snake, what would you name it? (scientific name and common name if you please)

Acanthophis Orochimarus.

Acanthophis is a genus of elapid snakes. Commonly called 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, they are not adders at all and belong to the Elapidae family (like cobras). The name of the genus derives from the Ancient Greek akanthos/ἄκανθος ('spine') and ophis/ὄφις ('snake'), referring to the spine on the death adder's tail.

I would prefer the snake species to be large enough to swallow the jinchuriki, venomous, possess sizeable fangs, and live longer than most snakes. I will send Kabuto to investigate and research remote areas.

[snakemanaustralia]

Acanthophis granti Hoser, 2012

[exotic-venom]

(Acanthophis hawkei) Barkly Tableland death adder

Mainly neurotoxic. Found in Queensland and Northern Territory in Australia.

[askvoldemort]

You're evil as an Acanthophis.

[terranlifeform]

[herpsandbirds]

Death Adders in Australia

family Elapidae

Venomous.

Top - Floodplain Death Adder (Acanthophis hawkei), Adelaide River, NT

Mid. - Desert Death Adder (Acanthophis pyrrhus), Port Hedland, WA

Bttm. - Common Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus), Hawkesbury, NSW

photographs by Jesse’s Wildlife 

[snakebusters]

The head of a Magnetic Island Death Adder Acanthophis granti.

This is s species discovered and named by Snakeman Raymond Hoser in 2014 and has since been confirmed with DNA. Previously it had been treated as a variant of the Common Death Adder, Acanthophis antarcticus. Learn more at: https://www.smuggled.com/issue-23-pages-22-34.pdf

[herpskeepers]

Gorgeous common death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus).

Credit: Klaus Roemer

> For more pics, videos & articles visit: herpkeepers.com

[snakeoutbrisbane]

Daly River Rough Scale Death Adders (Acanthophis rugosus)

Some new additions to the collection! Daly River Rough Scale Death Adders, A. rugosus :) These two males are clutch mates, about 2 years old and eating like champions! The taxonomy of these snakes is still somewhat unclear; evidence suggest that "northern death adders" A praelongus should be separated into A. praelongus from Nth East QLD, A. rugosus from hilly regions of the NT and Papua New Guinea, and possibly floodplain dwelling species of A. hawkei. Accordingly, one might call these Daly River adders A. rugosus, depending on molecular divergence, physical characteristics, and other evidence. Either way, whether you call them rugosus or praelongus (or hawkei?!?), they're fascinating animals and a joy to keep, stunningly beautiful with a lightspeed strike :)

[demon-the-hunter]

Viest weapon names and what they are irl!

(This post will be excluding ones like Stormchaser and Dark Decider)

Krait - The Common Krait or Bungarus caeruleus

Valakadyn - The Valakadeyan Sea Snake or Enhydrina schistosa

Sand Wasp-3au - Sand Wasps or The Bembicini (I like this name)

Yellowjacket-3au - Yellowjackets or Vespula maculifrons

Lunulata-4b - The Greater Blue Ringed Octopus or Hapalochlaena lunulata

 Komodo-4fr - Komodo Dragons or Varanus komodoensis

 Taipan-4fr - Coastal Taipan or Oxyuranus scutellatus

 Man O’ War - Portuguese man o' war or Physalia physalis

Tarantula - Tarantulas or Theraphosidae

 King Cobra-4fr - King Cobra or Ophiophagus hannah

 Black Scorpion-4sr - Emperor Scorpions or Pandinus imperator

 Black Tiger - Black Tigers or Panthera tigris (Don’t ask, I don’t know)

 Sea Scorpion-1sr - Sea Scorpions or Eurypterids

Urchin-3si - Sea Urchins or Echinoidea

Redback-5si - Redback Spider or Latrodectus hasselti

The Rattler - Rattlesnakes or Crotalus/Sistrurus

Vinegaroon-2si - Whip Scorpions or Thelyphonida

Copperhead-4sn - Copperhead Snakes or Agkistrodon contortrix

 Widow’s Bite - Black Widow spiders or Latrodectus

 Death Adder - Common Death Adder or Acanthophis antarcticus

Funnelweb - Funnelweb Spiders or Atracidae

Red Mamba - Jameson's mamba or Dendroaspis jamesoni

The Recluse - Brown Recluse or Loxosceles reclusa

Furina-2mg - Red-naped snake or Furina diadema

Whip Scorpion-3mg - Whip Scorpions or Thelyphonida

Chrysopelea-S - Flying Snake (wtf) or Chyrsopelea