Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I heard you was a toxicologist and I have a few questions for you that puzzle me. Whats in a kingsnakes blood that makes it immune to venomous snakes in its area? and if a venomous snake bites itself will it die or be hurt by its own venom.

thanks,
jc

I'm not a toxicologist (...but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night! ) Someone asked the same question at a rattlesnake roundup nearby earlier this year. They were told by one of the handlers in the pit (you have to consider the source here) that it's more likely that, if the snake bites itself and dies, it will more likely be because of damage inflicted to vital internal organs than envenomation.

Good questions. I'd also be interested to know what it is about kingsnakes that makes them immune to the venom of our native poisonous snakes. BTW, does that include Elapidae (coral snake) neurotoxins, or are they immune only to the (mainly) hemotoxic venom of our pit vipers?

michaelb

When I referred to Elapidae, I was curious in particular about our native coral snakes. As far as I know, kingsnakes are indeed vulnerable to the venom of other members of the Elapidae family (cobras, mambas, kraits, etc.) Please correct me if I'm wrong.

A kingsnake in GA would not be immune to a Cobra bite. I do however belive they are immune to coral snakes. I belive they have adpated to eating the venomous snakes in the area they live. Whats strange is that someone told they had an eastern king to get bit by an atrox it lived and it ate the atrox.

laterz,
john