Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've tried this before, but with little luck so here it goes again....

I'm curious as to the type "a" and "b" venom integration zones of C. scutulatus here in Az. As I understand it, pretty much anything west of Phoenix is "a" and anything east and south of Phoenix is "b"...I'm just trying to find out if this is generally the rule.

Now, before someone goes off half-cocked and says "it's not that simple because venom variability can be great, even from snakes born in the same litter", I'll preempt that and say that I am fully aware of this. However, it is my understanding that GENERALLY speaking C. scutulatus from east of Phoenix lack the specfic "Mojave toxin" found in C. scutulatus from Ca. and western Az. Is this correct? Also, where is the geographical zone where "a/b" type snakes (snakes with both heavy amounts of neurotoxic AND haemotoxic venom) occur?

-Thanks

-AzAtrox

Well, if I remember this right, the area west of Phoenix is type "A". South and east of Phx. is type "B" until you get to S.E. Cochise County where it again becomes type "A" with both neurotoxic and myotoxic properties. West Texas snakes also possess this same type of venom. Jim Harrison (at KRZ)would be the one to talk to on this subject. He has everything pretty well mapped out.

I know the folks at Tucson Poison Control Center. They have a map that maybe I can get. I also saw it at the BOR Symposium.

Al
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Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.

np.