I've seen some pics of a v. exanthematicus attacking and eating a naja nigricollis, and a v. niloticus attacking a psammophis sibilans, while being bitten on the neck, and was wondering if anyone had some info on varanids' immunity to snake venom, especially if there was any specific research done on how immune they actually are.
Thanks in advance.
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Pozdrav,
Anton T.
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Thank you Sir, may I have another?
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Varanids and snake venom
AntonT
Nov 06, 2003 12:06 AM
Replies (4)
SHvar
Nov 06, 2003 09:38 AM
Snakes but never V. Exanthematicus (accept one of a copperhead in captivity). Bosc are a major food item for cobras, not vica-versa, as they are too small to eat them. Im sure a dead cobra is fine to scavenge. I have video of an albig killing a cobra and being bitten on the neck with no effects, then eating the cobra in front of a group of mongoose. Ive been told albigs love cobras, and although nervous of vipers love them to. Ive never offered my albigs snakes yet, especially venomous.
AntonT
Nov 06, 2003 10:00 AM
I didn't pay close enough attention to the pic, and the book had it marked as "varan exanthematicus". but then again, it has a tree boa (corallus caninus) marked as CROTALUS caninus - slight difference 
I am not looking to expand my monitor's diet, I primarily deal with viperids and venomous colubrids, and am very interested in the evolution of the venom apparatus, and hence, the immunity to venom that ceratin species have.
Thanks for the info, though, it is greatly appreciated.
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Pozdrav,
Anton T.
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Thank you Sir, may I have another?
mkbay
Nov 06, 2003 02:38 PM
V. albigularis do eat cobras and will, in a defensive posture feed of Bitis (gaboon vipers) in a very unique way (see Branch 1991 for photo of it eating puff adder). V. exanthematicus are preyed on by ball pythons in West Africa (Lenz, 1995). V. niloticus does show a high affinity for snakes as does V. albigularis; and V. griseus does feed on Cerastes cerastes with quite a few reports on this (Ansorge, 1899).
Cheers,
markb
meretseger
Nov 06, 2003 08:17 PM
V. griseus and Cerastes cerastes? I always hate to find out when two of my favorite species like to eat each other. That would be kind of cool to see, though.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
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