Death adders typically measure 42cm for males and 55cm for females. Shazza, exceeds those numbers by double, measuring 110 cm in total length.
The largest living common death adder (Acanthophis cerastinus) ever recorded, measuring nearly twice the average size of a common death adder, at 110cm in length has been living at the Australian Reptile park for the past nine years.
Death adders, one of the most venomous snakes in Australia, typically measure 42cm for males and 55cm for females. Shazza, exceeds those numbers by double, measuring 110 cm in total length, a snout to vent length of 95cm and a total weight of 1.55kg. In 2023, Shazza measured 102cm total length and weighed 1.41kg.
“The moment I first laid eyes on her… I knew she was just a monster and her potential to get over a metre was definitely there.” Park Manager Billy Collett said in a statement released to the media. “I don’t want to get bitten by any snakes, but I cannot get bitten by her. She’s so big, her venom yield are so big, it’s frightening.”
Shazza being milked for venom. Credit: Australian Reptile Park
“She’s a big death adder, way bigger than I thought she would be,” Dane Trembath, Collection Manager of Herpetology at the Australian Museum Research Institute said. “I’d say she’s almost double the size of a normal death adder. Most snakes have this initial growth spurt when they are born … she’s way beyond that so her growth will now slow down. As she slowly grows, she may actually surpass the biggest death adder ever recorded but we don’t know how long that is gonna take.”
A member of the park’s venom program, Shazza can produce 270 milligrams of venom in a single milking and continues to provide large venoms yields regularly.
“Her venom yields are literally twice the size of the average Common Death Adder so there’s no doubt she’s saving more human lives with the venom she’s producing,” Collett said.
At approximately 15 years of age, Shazza still has more growing to do. It is hoped that Shazza can surpass the largest death adder ever recorded, which is a specimen preserved at the Australian Museum Collection. That venomous snake measured 117 cm with a snout to vent length of 101 cm at the time of its death.
Death Adder Species
There are eight recognized species of death adders in the genus Acanthophis. These include the Common death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus), Kimberley death adder (Acanthophis cryptamydros), Barkly Tableland death adder (Acanthophis hawkei) Papuan smooth-scaled death adder (Acanthophis laevis), Northern death adder (Acanthophis praelongus), Desert death adder (Acanthophis pyrrhus), Rough-scaled death adder (Acanthophis rugosus), and the Pilbara death adder (Acanthophis wellsi). While these venomous snakes have the name adder and maintain a viper-like appearance, they are elapids and are more closely related to cobras, taipans, and coral snakes than true vipers. Their venom interferes with nerve signaling and can lead to paralysis and respirator failure if left untreated. These venomous snakes feed on small mammals, birds, frogs and other reptiles. Some also use their tail as a caudal lure to attract lizards.
