Actually while I agree his delivery was horrible I wonder if he may have something. I am thinking of the gut content more than the musk. To explain further I would think that the occurrence of esophageal biting would be mention a little more than it is if that was how all these ringneck related deaths were occurring. Especially in the case of the Corals. Since this is a kingsnake forum we won't get into that. The fact that most accounts are from the following day or at least hours latter and the ringneck is dead the idea of them clamp on to the inside of the throat is ridiculous. I don't discount the fact that it does occur I just don't believe it happens enough to even be mentioned as a defense strategy.

There has to be something chemical that is affecting the kings to kill them. The question is as a individual do you believe that it is the "venom" of the ringneck or some other toxin. If it is the venom why are some immune and others aren't . Further why can one king eat 10 ringnecks and then die while other can't eat one and still others eat all you give them with no problem. I think Frank did a good job on that one part but it got deleted. In short he said evolution combined with regional variance between snakes. Animal arms race etc. There was a lot more that he said but that was the idea.

My thoughts where more in the realm of gut content of the ringneck when eaten. I know of guys getting bit by Garter snakes in S. Florida and having a envenomation like response. I have always thought that when this happened it was from left over toxins from toads that were eaten by the garters. Also I had feeder lizards kill scarlet kings after i collected them from a yard that had been sprayed. Different animals can carry toxins within them that are not deadly to them while still being deadly to predators.

Seeing as no studies have been brought up it is all opinion. And everybody's is welcome.

Later Jason

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