Posted by:
rcreek
at Fri Nov 22 01:25:42 2013 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by rcreek ]
I thought this might be interesting to share. I read a 2002 study done by extracting venom from the Duvernoy's gland in various rear-fanged colubrids under anaesthesia. In part of the study, they then injected the venom into mice to determine the LD50 (median lethal dose).
I deduced the following from a data table that was provided:
• Dispholidus typhus (boomslang), Thelotornis species (twig snakes) and Rhabdophis species (such as red-necked keelback) were the most venomous of the snakes tested. These three rear-fanged colubrids are considered to pose a serious threat to humans, and deaths have occurred. • When Boiga dendrophila (mangrove snake) venom was given IV it took approximately 12.6 times the amount of boomslang venom given IV to kill a mouse. • When mangrove snake venom was given IP (intraperitoneal) it took 1.85 times the amount of Hydrodynastes gigas (false water cobra) venom given IP to kill a mouse – which could be interpreted to mean that, as far as mice are concerned, false water cobras are 1.85 times more venomous than mangrove snakes. • By that line of thought, boomslangs are also 12.6 times more venomous than mangrove snakes, and 6.8 times more venomous than false water cobras.
[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Hide Replies ]
Venom Testing - Mangroves vs. FWCs - rcreek, Fri Nov 22 01:25:42 2013
|