Smooth-scaled death adder

Smooth-scaled death adder
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Acanthophis
Species:
A. laevis
Binomial name
Acanthophis laevis
Macleay, 1878
Synonyms
List
  • Acanthophis cerastinus ceramensis Gunther, 1863
  • Acanthophis antarcticus laevis Worrell, 1961
  • Acanthophis barnetti Hoser, 1998
  • Acanthophis crotalusei Hoser, 1998
  • Acanthophis groenveldi Hoser, 2002
  • Acanthophis macgregori Hoser, 2002
  • Acanthophis yuwoni Hoser, 2002
  • Acanthophis ceramensis Wallach et al., 2014

The smooth-scaled death adder (Acanthophis laevis) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Acanthophis laevis is an ambush predator, lying in wait to capture fast-moving prey like mammals and lizards. Death adders (genus Acanthophis) have a broad diet, mainly consisting of frogs, lizards, and mammals. Females grow larger than males; tail length and head shape also differ between sexes in some species.