Thanks for the input! I think a relatively quick death is in order, will suggest the anaphylaxis route. Not sure about the recluse, we just don't get them in the UK and as far as I know the venom is slow (death by renal failure) and HIGHLY necrotic so the bite/injection site would be obvious.

I know that the techniques open to pathologists these days are considerable (although I take CSI with a nr. fatal pinch of salt!), but I beleive they would only investigate where the cause of death is suspicious. Anaphylaxis may not be suspicious and sounds ideal.

As for ID'ing a snake down to species level from venom in a cadavers system... not sure either. So much variation within species let alone between, and I doubt even the notorious Fry & Wuster double act have samples of everything on file for cross reference (no doubt they're working on it!).

Thanks again for all the ideas, I can now sound really intelligent and imaginative when I pas them off as my own lol.

Regards, Lee.

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• Novel Research... tracing colubrid venoms post mortum... - LAF, Sat Sep 25 18:40:41 2004
• RE: Novel Research... tracing colubrid venoms post mortum... - phobos, Sun Sep 26 08:27:42 2004
• RE: Novel Research... tracing colubrid venoms post mortum... - BGF, Mon Sep 27 04:22:41 2004
• Trainspotting - BGF, Mon Sep 27 04:26:26 2004
• RE: Trainspotting - phobos, Mon Sep 27 20:12:23 2004
• RE: Novel Research... tracing colubrid venoms post mortum... - rearfang, Sun Sep 26 15:56:15 2004
• RE: Novel Research... tracing colubrid venoms post mortum... - LAF, Sun Sep 26 17:27:29 2004
• RE: Novel Research... tracing colubrid venoms post mortum... - rearfang, Sun Sep 26 20:55:16 2004
• My best friend is a forensic pathologist. - Gargoyle420, Thu Sep 30 01:00:20 2004