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To BGF,Boiga sp. suspected for killing in SriLanka???

hypnale Jan 31, 2004 04:00 AM

Dear Brian,
I just read that post from you.Do you know which species is the suspect.The reason for asking this is that I was looking to start keeping the "rear fanged" snakes by getting a "harmless" Boiga(Not from a shop, but from the bushes around).Can you help, please.

Replies (3)

WW Jan 31, 2004 09:10 AM

>>Dear Brian,
>>I just read that post from you.Do you know which species is the suspect.The reason for asking this is that I was looking to start keeping the "rear fanged" snakes by getting a "harmless" Boiga(Not from a shop, but from the bushes around).Can you help, please.

... but the Boiga suspect is B. forsteni. Basically, locals have accused B. forsteni of causing deaths where victims were bitten at night in houses and developed neurotoxic symptoms. The medics and Sri Lankan herpers usually dismiss this as being the work of a krait (Bungarus caeruleus), which also often bites people in houses at night. Having said that, the general scenario (sleepers being bitten in houses, and developing severe neurotoxicity) is very similar to that seen on Guam, where B. irregularis comes into houses and bites, people, and has caused life-threatening neurotoxicity in infants.

I guess the jury is still out on that one. All the Indian and Sri Lankan herpers treat B. forsteni as not particularly dangerous, but if a small baby got chewed on throughly, then the potential is probably there.

Cheers,

Wolfgang
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WW Home

WW Jan 31, 2004 09:10 AM

>>>>Dear Brian,
>>>>I just read that post from you.Do you know which species is the suspect.The reason for asking this is that I was looking to start keeping the "rear fanged" snakes by getting a "harmless" Boiga(Not from a shop, but from the bushes around).Can you help, please.
>>
>>
>>... but the Boiga suspect is B. forsteni. Basically, locals have accused B. forsteni of causing deaths where victims were bitten at night in houses and developed neurotoxic symptoms. The medics and Sri Lankan herpers usually dismiss this as being the work of a krait (Bungarus caeruleus), which also often bites people in houses at night. Having said that, the general scenario (sleepers being bitten in houses, and developing severe neurotoxicity) is very similar to that seen on Guam, where B. irregularis comes into houses and bites, people, and has caused life-threatening neurotoxicity in infants.
>>
>>I guess the jury is still out on that one. All the Indian and Sri Lankan herpers treat B. forsteni as not particularly dangerous, but if a small baby got chewed on throughly, then the potential is probably there.
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>Wolfgang
>>
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>> WW Home
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WW Home

hypnale Feb 02, 2004 04:13 AM

Now thats interesting.i've seen some big ones.But because I wasn't prepared to take a bite from a 2m snake, I kept my distance.Now,... I might try to get some smaller sp. like trigonata.
Thanks

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