Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can someone tell me a little about the chemistry/physiology of King Cobra venom?Is it neurotoxic like most elapid venom?I've heard that it's a rather complex mixture of toxic proteins. Not to mention the fact that Kings often inject a very large dose when they bite-in the words of a breeder @ dragonfarms: "if a King Cobra bites you, you're pretty much gonna die"

>>Can someone tell me a little about the chemistry/physiology of King Cobra venom?Is it neurotoxic like most elapid venom?I've heard that it's a rather complex mixture of toxic proteins. Not to mention the fact that Kings often inject a very large dose when they bite-in the words of a breeder @ dragonfarms: "if a King Cobra bites you, you're pretty much gonna die"

King cobra venom is predominantly neurotoxic in effect in humans. All snake venoms are complex mixtures or proteins, so nothing special there. Like pretty much all neurotoxic snakebites, even severe king cobra bites are normally survivable if you get to the hospital and get mechanical ventilation if/when your own breathing muscles pack up. Obviously, without treatment, you would have a fairly poor prognosis.

Cheers,

WW
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KC venom is not nearly as toxic as other Elapid Species: See Venom Doc LD50 Link.

It's just they have a lot more of it and have a bad tendency to hang on and chew on you for a while.

One very severe bite required over one Liter of A/V and a ventilator but the person survived.

Al
Venom Doc LD50 chart

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Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.

Over 1 litre of AV?! Wow!