Nobody can give me a straight answer. I've been told they are and that they are not? Anybody know for sure?
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Rhino Ratsnakes (Rhynchophis boulengeri) Are They Rear-Fanged?
Snakehound223
Jan 04, 2005 01:51 PM
Replies (3)
WW
Jan 05, 2005 03:50 AM
>>Nobody can give me a straight answer. I've been told they are and that they are not? Anybody know for sure?
Like most colubrids, they will almost certainly have venom glands (Duvernoy's glands). I don't know whet their teeth look like, but that is fairly irrelevant anyway, since snakes without strongly developed fangs can also in some cases inject venom. So the question of whether they have enlarged or grooved rear fangs is not all that important as far as personal safety is concerned.
However, I have never heard of symptomatic bites from these snakes, so my guess is that the venom won't be much of a problem.
Cheers,
Wolfgang
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snakehound223
Jan 05, 2005 01:40 PM
Wolfgang,
I was aware of the Duvernoys Gland in Colubrids, but I wasn't sure if these have rear-fangs. I have 2.4 adults and when they all eat they seem to chew alot on the prey items before they start to swallow. Which is why I think they might have a grooved tooth, or "rear-Fangs" of course I good be wrong. Anyway thanks alot!!
Diolch yn fawr!
WW
Jan 06, 2005 04:28 AM
>>Wolfgang,
>> I was aware of the Duvernoys Gland in Colubrids, but I wasn't sure if these have rear-fangs. I have 2.4 adults and when they all eat they seem to chew alot on the prey items before they start to swallow. Which is why I think they might have a grooved tooth, or "rear-Fangs" of course I good be wrong. Anyway thanks alot!!
Well... the point is that there is no clear distinction between rear-fanged and non-rear-fanged "colubrids" - you get all sorts of intermediate, weird and wonderful tooth arrangement, including totally undifferentiated, slightly enlarged with or without grooves, greatly enlarged with or without grooves, two teeth abutting each other, creating a groove effect between them, enlarged front teeth, etc, etc, etc.. There is no simple definition of rear-fanged.
The chewing may be either to get some venom in, or to kill/overpower the prey mechanically. Can you see anything that looks like a venomous effect?
Cheers,
Wolfgang
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WW Home
