I'm thinking about getting a mangrove snake and I was wondering how potent the venom is.If somebody could help me I would like that very much thanks.
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mangrove snake venom
crestedman
Apr 26, 2005 10:40 PM
Replies (2)
joeysgreen
Apr 27, 2005 06:25 AM
This has been discussed to death, search the below threads 
BGF
Apr 27, 2005 11:47 PM
>>I'm thinking about getting a mangrove snake and I was wondering how potent the venom is.If somebody could help me I would like that very much thanks.
The venom is, drop for drop, as potent as extremely toxic elapids such as death adders. See our paper
http://www.venomdoc.com/downloads/2004_BGF_Colubrid neurotox.pdf
However, there is much more to it than simply the toxicity. Other factors include venom yield and relative efficacy of delivery. The venom yield of colubrids is typically much much smaller than elapids or viperids. The venom delivery is also vastly less efficient than the hollow, hypodermic fangs of atractaspidids, elapids or viperids. So, at the end of the day the relative danger is consequently much lower. Even a full on, extended chomp lasting tens of minutes by a very large Boiga typically will not cause more than mild/moderate systemic effects and the likelihood of a lethal envenomation is extremely remote.
Boigas can easily and safely be worked with by wearing a long sleeve shirt and gardening gloves.
Cheers
Bryan
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Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
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Australian Venom Research Unit,
University of Melbourne
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Population and Evolutionary Genetics Unit,
Museum Victoria
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http://www.venomdoc.com
