Posted by:
MsTT
at Thu Oct 9 20:27:53 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by MsTT ]
I suspect that all venomous snakes are capable of spitting, but the species that have not evolved a specific mechanism to do this aren't very accurate and don't have too much distance. Doesn't mean they can't get you in the eye if you're in the wrong place though.
I have observed "spitting" like behavior in: Crotalus adamanteus, Crotalus molossus, Crotalus atrox, Crotalus mitchelli and Naja kaouthia. The crotalids were unmistakably throwing venom; it was nice and yellow. I couldn't tell with the Naja because there was so little of it and it ended up as a few small dribbles on the floor.
Most of these incidents were very short distance and low volume, but one notable C. adamanteus tossed a glob on my assistant's upper leg from the ground during a series of agitated bluff strikes. This was a slightly injured and very unhappy animal just subsequent to a rescue. It was not a particularly large animal, perhaps 3' to 3.5' in length and under a kilogram in weight.
I don't know if this counts as spitting, but venomous snakes I am restraining by hand for oral exam or medication may "drool" a few drops of what is clearly venom. The solenoglyphs snap their fangs repeatedly back and forth and may toss droplets of venom quite a ways. To avoid getting sprayed, I sometimes use a large clear plastic syringe casing that is slipped over the upper jaw to cover and restrain the fang sheaths during oral procedures. Gaboons are one of the worst "fang snappers" and put on quite a display that can include a spray of venom when they are nabbed for medication.
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RE: Spitting melanoleuca?? - MsTT, Thu Oct 9 20:27:53 2003