I don't think Fry said ratsnakes have venom glands, but many snakes do, mostly tropical. He said radiated rats have a neurotoxin, but that doesn't mean it has dozens. Also, there are no large teeth for delivery. Thus, a bite from radiata would deliver very little toxin, if any, to a human.



As far as North American rats go, they are supposed to have evolved from Asian rats, but are highly evolved, and have lost most of their potential to do any toxic harm. They are harmless. They are likely one of the most harmless of all snakes. That's my opinion anyway.



PS: That was a very cool article, btw.



TC

[ Hide Replies ]

• Interesting Scientific Study - dawnrenee2000, Tue Oct 3 08:26:45 2006
• RE: Interesting Scientific Study - johninbs, Tue Oct 3 11:49:10 2006
• RE: Interesting Scientific Study - dawnrenee2000, Tue Oct 3 11:57:43 2006
• RE: Interesting Scientific Study - wink0083, Tue Oct 3 14:43:50 2006
• RE: Interesting Scientific Study - dawnrenee2000, Tue Oct 3 16:29:42 2006
• RE: Interesting Scientific Study - phwyvern, Tue Oct 3 18:41:57 2006
• RE: Interesting Scientific Study - Rivets55, Tue Oct 3 19:06:50 2006
• RE: Interesting Scientific Study - phwyvern, Tue Oct 3 18:46:32 2006
• Been there, done that... - garweft, Wed Oct 4 17:50:05 2006
• RE: Interesting Scientific Study - juicyb, Tue Oct 3 21:34:26 2006
• RE: Interesting Scientific Study - Foreman, Wed Oct 4 07:46:56 2006
• RE: Interesting Scientific Study - Foreman, Wed Oct 4 07:53:53 2006
• RE: Interesting Scientific Study - ratsnakehaven, Wed Oct 4 12:17:34 2006
• Venom Glands - Rivets55, Wed Oct 4 13:34:00 2006
• I wouldn't worry about butchered snakes - garweft, Wed Oct 4 17:44:42 2006
• RE: Interesting Scientific Study - phiber_optikx, Thu Oct 5 12:52:25 2006
• Who knew....Were HOT keepers...LOL - garweft, Wed Oct 4 17:34:50 2006
• RE: Who knew....Were HOT keepers...LOL - Foreman, Thu Oct 5 06:49:52 2006
• Well... maybe. - odyssey, Thu Oct 5 10:07:19 2006