Research for school project

[Venom]

I'm helping my sister run some research on an issue regarding a recent herpetological issue. It has recently been discovered, by Dr. Brian Fry, that a majority of colubrid snakes are actually venomous. (More information is available at: http://www.venomdoc.com/ ). My purpose here is to run a poll, and start discussion of the questions. Please answer honestly, and then explain your answers to the poll in a post. We need more data than merely a "yes/ no" in the poll, so please, say a word or two regarding your awareness of / opinion on this issue. Thank you!

 

[halfwaynowhere]

I've heard about this, and it doesn't surprise me. I've been bitten numerous times by hatchling corns, and started getting a bit itchy near the bite. My sister also reported the itchiness. It was very, very minor, hardly noticable. My sister and I have very sensitive skin. I don't think its an issue because it doesn't really cause any harm. Most people don't have any issues with the bite. Its pretty much just a little something leftover from evolution. I can think of more important issues to research than this.

 

[arachyd]

I agree pretty much with Halfwaynowhere. I would like to see further research on the venom because they're always learning new things about venom properties and composition and it could reveal some information of medical significance. I don't feel it is a serious issue.

 

[Lucara]

I honestly assumed that all snakes had at least some sort of venom. Like tarantulas, I figured that some just didnt have enough potency in their venom to really bother humans ie..corn snakes, rat snakes.

 

[invertoholic]

this is on par with monitors and their venoms if any are concerned about it then they should not have such a pet however i do feel that this should never get into the publics knowledge i fear that there will be even more serpent murders going on than before i live in a small town where everyone here screams when they see a common black rat snake and talk bout how "pisonus" they are and how they inter breed with "maccosins" to make their "piosns" more potent


stuff like this is good when kept to other herpers when put out in the news we get spin doctors making life for these animals that much harder i feel that this knowledge is useful but at the same time could harm the hobby if not handled correctly much like other much more venomous serpents that get handled by fools who know not what they are doing and get bit

 

[halfwaynowhere]

while I don't believe its fair to withhold information, this is so minor that people really don't need to know, and its so easy to get twisted around and made into a big deal. Shortly after I had originally heard about this, I was trying to sell some corn hatchlings at a bug fair. I had so many people ask me if they were "poisonous", I briefly explained the difference between poison and venom, and then told them that corn snakes were not venomous. I don't feel like I was lying, because its not medically significant, its not even comparable to a mosquito bite.

 

[Jmugleston]

I think the research is interesting and in no way does it surprise me. It won't change the way I deal with my animals either.

The difference lies in your view of the term. When I think of a venomous animal, I think of one that not only has venom, but also a high enough concentration to harm me along with a delivery system to inject the venom into my body. A corn snake chewing on my arm is not going to cause me to worry at all. When I went to the ER for my Croc Monitor bite, I was in no way concerned about the venom like proteins in their saliva.

The problem I have is that some people, especially those not into reptiles, will hear venomous and suddenly a rattlesnake, cobra, and garter snake will be grouped together as dangerous reptiles. The media's, and average person's take on the term venom is much different and this may further spread the hatred toward these animals.

I still view only the elapids, vipers, some colubrids, and the Helodermatids as being significantly venomous. (Some may even argue against including Helodermatids in there). My monitors will do more damage with their teeth and claws than with their saliva.