I'm stupid, or just uninformed, or something. Is my little western hognose a venomous snake?
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Hognose
yvonbug
Feb 16, 2006 08:01 PM
Replies (3)
repzoo44
Feb 16, 2006 10:43 PM
eeehhhhhhhh, yes, no, maybe. depends. they are rear fanged but they arent venomous in the way you think of a copperhead or rattlesnake. try doing a search over on the hognose forum as this comes up every now and then there. but, maybe to answer some questions, no one has ever died from a hognose bite. mine has chewed on me a couple of times and I had no ill affects at all. I dont think its anything you need to worry about. there are some photos somewhere of a guy who let one chew on him and his arm swelled up for a day or so. but if I were to chew on your arm for a few minutes and you didnt wash it, you may see some swelling as well. and as far as I know, im not venomous. hope that helped some. check the hognose forum.
ep
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Occupants not paying rent:
1.1.5 balls
2.1.8 corns(candy cane, creamsicle, ghost, 4 normal,
4 anery )
1 pueblan milk
1 everglades rat
1 cal. king
1 gray band king
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
1 fish
1 mouse
3.3 cats
yvonbug
Feb 17, 2006 07:11 PM
Thanks, folks, I'm just a newbie at all this stuff, I've been a caretaker since August 2005, I'm trying to learn as much as I can what with 26 different reptiles and snakes to take care of, But I love my job! Just got lots to learn!
chrish
Feb 17, 2006 09:14 AM
I guess by any technical definition, they are. Then again, so are most ants.
If you define a venomous snake as one that produces some type of toxic saliva derivative that can be administered by some sort of modified injection system that can be used to subdue prey, then yes, they are venomous. They do produce toxins within their saliva, they do have a modified puncturing rear teeth and they use these to help subdue prey. Therefore they are venomous. They don't have hollow or grooved "fangs", but neither do Gila Monsters, and they are clearly regarded as venomous.
If you rely on the litmus test that venomous animals are dangerous to humans, then they are probably not venomous. But by this definition, many front-fanged elapids aren't venomous either.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas
