The taipans are snakes of the genus Oxyuranus in the elapid family. They are large, fast-moving, highly venomous, and endemic to Australasia. There are currently three recognized species, one of which, the coastal taipan, has two subspecies. The taipans are considered some of the most deadly known snakes.
The common name, taipan, was coined by anthropologist Donald Thomson after the word used by the Wik-Mungkan Aboriginal people of central Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia.
The three known species are: the coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus), the inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus), and a recently discovered third species, the Central Ranges taipan (Oxyuranus temporalis). The coastal taipan has two subspecies: the coastal taipan (O. s. scutellatus), found along the northeastern coast of Queensland, and the Papuan taipan (O. s. canni), found on the southern coast of Papua New Guinea.
Their diets consist primarily of small mammals, especially rats and bandicoots.
Taipan! is a turn-based strategy computer game for the Apple II and TRS-80 which was created in 1982. It was created by Art Canfil and the company Mega Micro Computers, and published by Avalanche Productions.
The game Taipan! was inspired by the novel Tai-Pan by James Clavell. The player is in the role of a trader in the Far East. They own a ship, and may decide if they wish to start without any cash but five guns, or with some cash and a debt.
The goal is to accumulate wealth through trade and possibly also through booty won in battles against pirates. As soon as the player's net worth reaches one million (in the game's undefined currency), the player has the option to retire.
Art Canfil originally created the game in 1979 "using a TRS-80." Apple II ran the commercial release version that was published by Avalanche Productions. Canfil authored the companion book, illustrated by Chrisann Brennan.
The basic strategy of the game is to buy goods (opium, silk, arms, and general cargo) at a low price and sell them at a higher price. The silk, arms, and general cargo have no special features; opium is special in that it can be confiscated at random points by the local authorities, resulting in a fine for the player. This makes dealing in opium riskier than dealing in the other goods; however, it is also in general the most profitable item for trade.
Taipan Catamarans are sailing catamarans, available amateur built or manufactured by Australian High Performance Catamarans (AHPC).
The Taipan 4.9 is either constructed professionally from plastic (glass reinforced) or can be home build from plywood. New plastic boats are only available from the manufacturer AHPC, however amateur builders can buy plans to build a plywood boat.
Designed by Greg Goodall And Jim Boyer in the early 1980s the 4.9 meter Taipan was a development of the Mosquito catamaran, lighter than the Hobie 16, and more similar to the A class in hull design. The sail plan had a higher aspect, and it was lighter overall weight than most North American designs. Rigged and ready to sail the 4.9 weighs a minimum of 231 lb (105 kg). Other features include a wing mast, and later on a spinnaker. Like the Mosquito and Cobra class rules to sail the boat cat rigged (mainsail & more recently with spinnaker for solo sailing) or sloop rigged (Main, Jib & spinnaker for two up sailing). A modified Taipan, with some modifications such as a wider beam and a self-tacking jib, has become one of the foundation boats for the Formula 16 racing class.