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I have always read and seen on tv the b. gabonica has the largest venom yield as an average. Now that I am looking into it I'm finding that everywhere I am looking c. adamanteus is turning up higher numbers. I'm not particularly doubting either account I would just like to know. I am finding that c. adamanteus yields an average of 200.mgs to 800.mgs and b. gabonica yields and average of 450.mgs to 600.mgs . Who can give me a definative answer to this?

Thank you all,

Hi:

The short answer is there is no definative answer. Those are average yields that vary from snake to snake depending on many factors, not just limited to the size of the animal. Health, age, sex of the animal also play a part. Each snake can also have different amounts of solids in their venom altering the dried weight. There are so many huge snakes that yield large quantities of venom, King Cobra, Gaboon, and EDB's and many others. This is why they call it an "Average Yield". The bottom line is their venom glands hold multiple human LD's at any given time. It's best not to get bitten by any of them.

Al

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Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

Thank you so much for your reply, I totaly agree with you I wouldn't want to be bitten by any of them. To quote Bryan G Fry "Dead is Dead". I guess my question wasn't actually as clear as I thought it was. I am really wanting to find out the maximum venom yield of both the c. adamanteus and the b. gabonica. Reason being is that like I said in my previous post I have always seen that the b. gabonica pretty much holds the record for general quantity. The numbers I'm finding is that the c. adamanteus max's out at 800.mgs and the b. gabonica max's at 600.mgs. If them numbers are true then the c. adamanteus would hold the record for general venom yield?

Thank you,
As you can tell I ended that with a question mark.

I'm still wondering about the article from a few weeks ago that said a king cobra could inject 4 ounces of venom. I would love to see that confirmed or dismissed, it seems like an enormous amount both in fluid ounces or by weight.

I've seen something similar to that. I'm having a really hard time believing any snake could inject even 1/10 of an ounce of venom, let alone four. Line up four shot glasses, then you'll get a good picture of just how much that is. No way.

Exactly--my mental image was of an 8 ounce styrofoam coffee cup half full of evnom, it just doesn't seem possible.

Bushmasters should also be in that list. Same for Bothrops asper.

Mulgas or Kingbrowns from Austrailia are also huge venom producers. Definately worth mentioning.

As was said, there is no definative answer. Too many varibles thrown into the mix. All of them can drop you with a fraction og the venom they can inject so its almost a mute point unless your a venom line producer looking for the most bang for your buck. Even then venomline snakes are not producing the venom volume of well cared for captive snakes. They are just too stressed.

The one thing I can say for sure is if I had to pick which of the snakes on the list to be within strike range it would hands down be O.hannah lol Cobras or should I say snakes that rear and strike like that are typicly slow in comparison. If your in the strike range of the others your fate is determined by them O.O

Crotalus adamanteus on our venom production line average 300 to 800 mgs of dryed venom per extraction at two week dates for extraction. One animal gave 1.9 grams of venom in one extraction and averages 800 to 900 mgs.

Jim Harrison

Thank you very much Jim for the information, 1.9 grams!!!!!!! That's amazing, not that I'm doubting you but it's actually hard to believe. I have also heard the king brown holds the record for the highest venom yield in one particular milking, unfortuanatly I don't know how much that was. I understand that the amount of venom yielded has variables but they all do have maximum general yields. I'm just wanting to know the general maximum yield in c. adamanteus and b. gabonica. I know that some are basicly saying that there is not a definative answer but if we was comparing the 1.9 grams Jim mentioned the c. adamanteus yielded to the general 3 to 5 mg's a coral yields then it would seem more basic. Someone just correct me if I'm wrong about the gaboon holding the world record for highest general venom yield, if not what is it? From what I found gaboons average a max of about 600mg's. c. Atrox averages 600mg's. If the gaboon averages 600mg's then everything I have heard and read about it holding the world record for highest general venom yield is wrong. Can anyone tell me what facts I have are wrong?

,Thank you very much for all replies so far.

The current information on the maximum recorded venom yield that I could assertain was for the King Brown Snake at 1300 mg.

Though Jims 1900 mg. has been discussed before and is nothing short of astonishing...

I've never seen anything state that Gaboons ever held a highest recorded venom yield... Most of what I've seen published is usually between 300-500mg... I think we just THINK they should produce the most...

Obviously, Lachesis, Bothrops, Ophiophagus are big runners too.

I think your question has been answered pretty accurately from most of the previous posts... I think your information is/was wrong about the Gaboons..

Best Regards,
T-
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It's what you learn AFTER you know it all that counts!

Terry Phillip
Curator of Reptiles
Black Hills Reptile Gardens
Rapid City, SD.

www.reptilegardens.com