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.

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