Hypothetically could an operation to remove either the venom glands or venom ducts of a dangerous rearfanged snake such as a boomslang or twigsnake(although some still do not believe the twig snakes to be technically venomous they definitely are capable of killing humans, such as famed herpetologist Robert Mertens). Please do not post your views on venomoids here, as this is only a hypothetical question
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Rearfanged Venomoids
enkidu
Feb 27, 2007 05:31 PM
Replies (3)
archiebottoms
Feb 27, 2007 09:53 PM
get a garter.
enkidu
Feb 28, 2007 12:32 AM
Notice that I did not say that I had any intention of doing it, which I do not. And also several sirtalis species such as the wandering garter snakes are rear fanged.
eunectes4
Mar 01, 2007 07:37 PM
technically, all colubrids with the exception of na kings, rats, bulls, milks (former na elaphe, lampropeltis, and pituophis) are technically venomous and rear fanged. Meaning, they all have a venom gland. Really, this gland is no different than the venom gland in any other elapid, viperid, or crotalid besides size. And with each rear fanged snake, the size of the gland will vary.
So I really see no reason why this gland could not be removed as it is in any other venomous snake.
And I guess you could technically have a venomoid garter snake.
If you would care to read my feelings on the topic, I spelled it out rather clearly in the thread below this one.
