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If a snake cannot make venom, can it be venomous?
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by SimplySnakes on September 11, 2007
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Got you on this one, the answer is not what you may think...In a article published recently I read and quote the following
" Yes. Rhabdophis tigrinis, and Asian snake, can steal venom, say herpetologists from Old Dominion University who recently showed how the species does it. When the snake eats a toxic toad, it sequesters the toxin in bulging glands in the back of its' neck. When it fears attack the snake bows it's head, effectively daring it's foe to bite into the poison-filled glands. But not always. The researchers found that if the snake eats a toad-free diet, it doesn't have any venom - and is more likely to flee than fight.
Source - The Smithsonian.
Paul
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RE: If a snake cannot make venom, can it be venomo
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by GREGLONGHURST on September 11, 2007
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That genus is one that is known, if I am not mistaken, to be a dangerously venomous opistoglyph. Is that not the genus of the keel backs..and have they not produced some pretty nasty bites?
~~Greg~~
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RE: If a snake cannot make venom, can it be venomo
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by SimplySnakes on September 11, 2007
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Larry, Greg...
I do not know. I was hoping that someone here could vouch for the validness of that article, back it up so to speak.
Paul
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RE: If a snake cannot make venom, can it be venomo
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by Cro on September 11, 2007
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Paul, the science is sound. The snake you mentioned does store Poison from what it eats.
Other snakes probably do the same, as in the Ring Neck Snakes, Diadophis punctatus, however, that is yet to be proven by science.
The accumulation of toxins by Dart Frogs is well known. The frogs eat spiders, centepedes, and ants and accululate formic acid and other toxins that they turn into toxic skin secretions.
It would not surprise me that other snakes have evolved this same technique to accumulate toxins that help make them less edible by preditors.
It is not all that different from a snake making musk to ward off a preditor, just a bit more sophisticated.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: If a snake cannot make venom, can it be venomo
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by BGF on September 12, 2007
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These snakes are both venomous and poisonous. They have well-developed venom glands and have been linked to fatalities. That satisfies any definition of venomous. They also have toxic secretions on the next that would deter predators who ingest it. Thus satisfying the definition of poisonous.
Just goes to show that snakes are even cooler than we already thought! ;-)
Cheers
B
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RE: If a snake cannot make venom, can it be venomo
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by SimplySnakes on September 13, 2007
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Brian, thanks for the info. I thought you might shed some light on this for me. Very interesting snake.
Paul
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