return to main index
  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
Click here for LLL Reptile & Supply  
click here for Rodent Pro
Mice, Rats, Rabbits, Chicks, Quail
Available Now at RodentPro.com!
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: Herp Photo of the Day: Ball Python . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day: Skink . . . . . . . . . .  Bay Area Herpetological Society Meeting - Aug 22, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Suncoast Herp Society Meeting - Aug 23, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Suncoast Herp Society Meeting - Aug 23, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  DFW Herp Society Meeting - Aug 23, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Sept 03, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Southwestern Herp Society Meeting - Sept 06, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  St. Louis Herpetological Society - Sept 14, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  San Diego Herp Society Meeting - Sept 16, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - Sept 20, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - Sept 21, 2025 . . . . . . . . . . 
Chahoua, Gargoyle, Leachianus & Crested Gecko SALE @ LLL. Click HERE!
Free Nationwide Ground Shipping on All Frozen Food Orders Totaling $99 Or More at RodentPro.com!
Register for a FREE kingsnake.com classified account today - CLICK HERE!

RE: Hognose Bite

[ Login ] [ User Prefs ] [ Search Forums ] [ Back to Main Page ] [ Back to Snakes - General Forum ]

Posted by: epidemic at Tue Aug 1 13:19:03 2006   [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by epidemic ]  
   

Heterodon species are true opisthoglyphs, harboring a complex venom and venom gland, formerly referred to as the Duvernoy’s gland. They do not harbor a toxic saliva. While Joe Monohan did incur some reaction to the venom, as has been mentioned, this was s staged episode and Joe had to coerce the snake into biting him, by scenting his finger with a toad and allowing it to “chew” on his finger for an extended period of time.
While most native Heterodon spp. prefer to flee or feign death as defensive actions, they will bite if molested and the latter two defenses indicated do not work.
While it would be very unlikely to incur an envenomation from a defensive bite, one should be cautious when handling a newly wild caught or unknown specimen, as each individuals immune system handles the introduction of a foreign protein into the body differently, as most of us will simply say a few choice words and remove the stinger from a bee sting, while such can bring about a medically significant anaphylactic reaction in others.
Personally, I have found native Heterodon spp. to be quite docile, once acclimated to captivity, and a joy to work with and I too would harbor no worries regarding my child handling a captive specimen…

Best regards,

Jeff
-----
Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

   

[ Hide Replies ]


>> Next topic:  Very 1st Clutch - MissNickle, Sun Jul 30 10:25:24 2006
<< Previous topic:  really bad shed - cheapcolon23, Fri Jul 28 14:48:48 2006