Posted by:
WW
at Thu Dec 18 04:05:28 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by WW ]
>>"So you suppose there is any truth to it?"
>>
>>Well, yes and no. Yes, the study is real. Dr. Fry did find Cobra like venom in "old world" Ratsnakes(Elaphe), produced in their Duvernoy Glands. No, it doesn't mean ALL snakes are venomous. Lampros (Kings and Milks), Panthers (Corns and N.A. Rats) , and Pits (Bull and Pine) don't have Duvernoy Glands. So, this study wouldn't apply to them. I don't think Boids have Duvernoy Glands either? It's been known for awhile that Garters and Hognoses are "somewhat" venomous. Just because a snake has venom doesn't mean it's dangerous to humans.
None of the primitive snakes (blind snakes, pipe snakes, boas, python etc. have any trace of venom. However most colubrids do, the North American lampropetine radiation being one of the few exceptions. Some of these venoms are highly potent, and a few colubrids have very large amounts of them, so there are certainly some species out there which may just be a lot more dangerous than we realise at the moment.
Cheers,
Wolfgang
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RE: All snakes are venomous - WW, Thu Dec 18 04:05:28 2003