Research into Venom and it's evolution

[Hickson]

Some of you who have been a member of this site for a while might remember a thread (read: nasty argument with name calling) discussing some new research that suggested that many of the snakes considered non-venomous, such as colubrids, actually had venom. This is discussed in this article.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=5&ObjectID=10116312



Hix

 

[Snake Catcher Victoria]

RE: Research into Venom and it

It is estimated that about five million people each year are bitten by snakes, resulting in about 125,000 deaths.,,,,,,where is this happening

baz

 

[craig.a.c]

RE: Research into Venom and it

Third world countries, such as india etc. People come into contact with vipers and cobras over there much more then we do with browns and rbbs etc.

 

[bigguy]

RE: Research into Venom and it

sssnakeman, most of these deaths occur throughout Asia. India alone has between 10, 000 to 20,000 deaths per year. PNG has the highest death toll for the population size than anyother country.

 

[Snake Catcher Victoria]

RE: Research into Venom and it

amazing,thats a lot of ppl to die each year,u'd think between traditional medicine and knowledge and the limited western care that this number must be some sort of exageration,,,its quite huge

 

[Snake Catcher Victoria]

this would be the main culprit in asia i think


sawscaled viper

 

[bigguy]

sssnakeman, its one of the big 3. The other 2 are the Indian Cobra and the Russels Pit Viper.

As for so many deaths, most people are poor and can not afford the antivenene. Also lack of hosptals and in many towns, even the lack of power for respirators.

 

[Hickson]

this would be the main culprit in asia i think


sawscaled viper

Actually, the indian cobra accounts for something like 15,000 deaths in India annually.

Hix

 

[Snake Catcher Victoria]

holy moly :shock: im impressed,but those little vipers are pretty impressive on their own,how is the big nocturnal eyes on them,they see u before u see them and then they still bite you,,ya gotta love em

 

[instar]

I think much like Adders they prolly make no great effort to get out of the way???, sombody steps on it and they bite! This, and people trying to catch them prolly amount to the reason for most bites, snakes dont go out of their way to bite people.

 

[bigguy]

Most people in Australia get bitten trying to kill or catch snakes. Only a few are bitten by stepping on them. However in Asia its the opposite. Most people are bitten stepping on them and being poor, and in the tropics where its so hot and humid, most people do not wear shoes or long pants.

Once stepped on the snakes will defend themselves, but they are not just waiting there to bite someone. They just want to be left alone and normally only bite as a last resort to defend themselves.

 

[Snake Catcher Victoria]

of course ur right,i wasnt trying to suggest they lay in wait for some poor native to come along,or go out of their way to bite ppl,,,,

 

[Brodie]

At least echis give you a warning!

 

[NCHERPS]

At least echis give you a warning!

Not always, and it isn't that load of a sound that they make anyway, not like the rattlers load warning.

I have not come across a good natured one of these, they give you no second chances, lighting fast strikes, easy to keep though, great to observe.
I used to be able to buy them for next to nothing in the UK, 30 pounds was considered the norm.

Neil

 

[Brodie]

hehehe,

Lucky little teapot

Definetly one of my favourite species........... that i have never even seen in the flesh.

How louds the sawing sound, say compared too the hiss of a mulga, or of a brown?

 

[hugsta]

They certainly are a cool snake, the way they rub their scales would be awesome to watch and hear.