>>Mangroves and FWC's (though they should be respected) don't even belong in this conversation.

I agree. While the Hydrodynastes are very large snakes, the venoms is rather weak (it'd take well over 100 milligrams to kill), the venom yield small and the amount actually delivered even smaller. The Boiga venoms are very very toxic, we just put out a paper showing that they are as toxic as death adders and other elapids. The maximum venom yield is 20-30 milligrams but the delivery isn't too crash hot so the average nip won't get much in. A prolonged chew certainly would but except for outsized feral snakes chewing on babies in Guam, it is extremely unlikely enough venom would be delivered to cause a clinically significant envenomation let alone a life-threatening one.

Here is a link to the neurotoxicity paper
http://www.venomdoc.com/downloads/2004_BGF_colubrid_neurotoxicity.pdf


> However, the Rhabdophis (Keelbacks) definitly do.

Very much so. Lethalities have occurred. Philodryas is another documented genus capable of life-threatening envenomations. Large psammophiines such as Malpolon, Psammophis and Rhamphiophis should also be treated with caution.


> That is probably the snake refered to above that was considered harmless (the Red Neck R.subminatus) till a boy in California was nipped.

This is a good example that while the vast majority of 'colubrids' are harmless despite being venomous, not all are and we don't know all of the dangerous ones. So, if a new 'colubrid' comes onto the market that is big and seems to really favour using its venom for prey capture (being accompanied by large maxillary fangs is also a tip off) then the snake should be treated with some sensible caution. With the exception of very large fanged snakes such as boomslangs, twig snakes etc., most 'colubrids' can be safely worked with by simply wearing gardening gloves and a long sleeve shirt.

Cheers
Bryan

>>"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."
-----
Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
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Australian Venom Research Unit,
University of Melbourne
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Population and Evolutionary Genetics Unit,
Museum Victoria
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http://www.venomdoc.com

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