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RE: toxicity chart
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by Cro on October 23, 2008
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This is an interesting chart from Carl Ernst, and I think for the most part, it is accurate, in that it shows that many North American Venomous Snakes are capable of delivering lethal doses, or, several lethal doses of venom, in an average bite.
However, the list is 16 years old, and I think new research has changed some of the data.
I would sure question the Tiger Rattlesnake data. Even though that snake delivers a tiny amount of venom in a bite, it has been found that the Tiger Rattlesnake has a high level of neurotoxic venom components, (Mojave toxins),in addition to the crotoxin isoforms.
One toxic component that makes up 10% of a Tiger Rattlesnake's venom has a LD 50 of 0.050 mg/kg !
Overall, this snake's venom produces a LD 50 of 0.6 mg/kg ! That makes it the Most Deadly Rattlesnake VENOM, drop for drop, in the world. When Ernst listed it, there was almost no data from bites from this snake. Not what I would call "local/reactions."
I would also question the information on the Gila Monster. The table tends to suggest that the average yield in a bite (assuming that a milking yields the same amount of venom as a bite does) from a Gila Monster delivers two lethal doses of venom. However, we do not hear of many folks who have been bitten by Gila Monsters and died from the bite. Perhaps this reflects less than a full dose of venom being deposited in a bite, however, because of the nature of these animals to hold on when biting, the potential to deliver a lot of venom is there.
Also, some of the snakes listed as causing "Local / Systemic Effects" tend to down play the severe damage these snake can cause. While the bite might not be fatal, it sure can do a lot of damage. I know people who almost died from the the bite of Rock Rattlesnakes.
It is amazing that they list the average bite from a Blacktail Rattlesnake as delivering 286 mg of venom in an averate bite, and say that it will only cause local effects. I shure would not want to voulenteere to test out that experiment !
If we followed that logic, then we should be recomending a Blacktail Rattlesnake as a beginners first hot snake, instead of a Copperhead. Something about that just does not add up.
Best Regards John Z
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