Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I understand that there is some question whether a hognose is venomous. I have heard that there is no delivery from the fangs but the punctures allow the snake's saliva to enter the bloodstream. As most have seen, the response of the person who allowed the hognose to chew on him for several minutes was pretty bad. Why would the length of time of the bite increase the response to the bite? Is it the amount of saliva that enters or just the fact that saliva is entering. I know that more poison would creat a worse response but why would more saliva?

I think it is more the fact that hoggies are rear fanged, and it took the hoggie really chewing on him to get a "good" puncture.
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Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" Author unknown

Hoggies are not poisonous they are venomous.
I hope you do not try to eat one.
The reason that they have to hold on and chew is because they are rear fanged like previously stated. Those rear fangs also help them "Pop" a frog or toad who has bloated up to make a bigger meal in hopes that the snakes mouth will be too small to swallow it.
Vipers or front fanged snakes can envenomate with one quick bite because the first teeth to make contact are the ones delivering venom.
Nick

Do the rear fangs "deliver" venom? Or do they facilitate entry of the saliva. You are right on the poisonous vs. venomous distinction. No, not planning on eating a hognose snake. lol. Have now lost my appetite for the evening. M

They actually deliver venom from a venom gland. There have been a few studies on it. Try googling it.
Nick