Are Texas/Estern Coral snakes rear fanged - Experts Forum at VenomousReptiles.org

Are Texas/Estern Coral snakes rear fanged	Reply
by Fabian on March 21, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
On the post about the Texas coral snake there is a topic about if coral snakes are front or rear fanged. I always thought they were rear fanged But, now I really do not know for sure. Some people are saying they are and some are saying they are not. Does anyone know for sure which it is. I know they have small fangs and have to chew on there prey but where the heck are the fangs at in there mouth ???? Fabian

RE: Are Texas/Estern Coral snakes rear fanged	Reply
by Buzztail1 on March 21, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Who are you going to accept an answer from? I can post data from several books and even offer personal observations but there seems to be no reason to accept my answer. You could go to venomdoc.com and ask Brian Grieg Fry. He will tell you that they are NOT rear-fanged. Bill Haast and George Van Horne will tell you that they are not rear-fanged. Not sure if Manny Rubio has any experience with Coral Snakes but you could ask him. The reason that people believe that Coral Snakes have to "chew" to envenomate is that their fangs are very short and stubby. The last one I caught had fangs that were certainly long enough to pierce skin without chewing. He obligingly opened his mouth and tried to "chew" on the inside of the plastic jar I placed him in to transport him from the home of the people who called me. His short front fangs were clearly visible. Unfortunately, my photos did not turn out, maybe next time. I released him shortly (minutes) after catching him as Coral Snakes can be difficult feeders and I had no need to keep one. Karl H. Betz

RE: Are Texas/Estern Coral snakes rear fanged	Reply
by Bothrops_pictus on March 21, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
The coral snakes are elapids, and only the colubrids are rear fanged. The elapids are proteroglyphes.

RE: Are Texas/Estern Coral snakes rear fanged	Reply
by JRHarrison on March 21, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Coral snakes are front fanged. From my experience extracting from thousands of North America, Central American and South America specimens I can say they are front fanged and can bite.

RE: Are Texas/Estern Coral snakes rear fanged	Reply
by LarryDFishel on March 21, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
I get this question about three times a day at our refuge. I think the confusion goes back to books like the one I have in front of me "A Guide to the Snakes of South Florida" (1962) which says that coral have grooved fnags and have to chew to inject venom (neither of which is true) and makes no mention of WHERE the fangs are. Of course people who know a bit about snakes but not specifically corals read that and assume they must be rear fanged. I don't remember reading anything printed in the last 20 years that says rear fanged, and if you do a quick net search on something like "coral snake",fangs you will find a pile of articles that virtually all say they are front fanged and most take time to mention the long standing "myths" about them...

RE: Are Texas/Estern Coral snakes rear fanged	Reply
Anonymous post on March 21, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
I wasn't even aware this was a topic worth discussing. Do your own research man! What are elapids classifieds as, FIXED,FRONT FANGED VENOMOUS SNAKES.

RE: Are Texas/Estern Coral snakes rear fanged	Reply
by Fabian on March 22, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Darn, I thought these forum where for asking things like this. I know a lot of people that think they are rear fanged snakes to. But there always has to be an Anonymous like there is here that just is not satisfied unless he can leave a bad taste in your month. Why and the world does there always have to be such big ******* in the world. God man get a life. Ask the experts forum is to ask things like this. I guess am just not as smart as you. "BUT" I will say one thing, I at least treat people a lot better than you do or ever will. I will pray that you make it through life with out someone hurting you. And Buzztail1 I ask this on it's own forum because I thought it would be a good topic for others to see. Remember there were a few others that thought the same way I did. That way others could see it that were not just going to the post about the Texas coral rehabilitation. That is what I mean, you had to be rude to me because I started a post just for that topic. I took your answer as good in your other post. I just thought it would be a good one for others to see to. Man dude relax.....Fabian

RE: Are Texas/Estern Coral snakes rear fanged	Reply
by Buzztail1 on March 22, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Sorry you took my answer that way, Fabian. I have attended "professional" lectures where the "professional" told his audience that Coral Snakes were rear-fanged. He also claimed (on national television) to have seen a thirty foot Anaconda eating a deer in the Phillipines! Not everyone here has the experience to answer the questions that they do. And not everyone here knows me or my experience. I listed some well known "experts" that I thought might be reachable for a professional answer. The truth is, I am, to most people, just another nickname here in the forums. That is why I listed the names that I did. This is indeed the place to ask questions. Unfortunately, not all the answers you get here are correct. I try to step in when I see things going astray. That was my intention here. If you ever meet me, you will know that I tend not to look down my nose at anyone who is trying to learn. Karl

RE: Are Texas/Estern Coral snakes rear fanged	Reply
by Nightflight99 on March 22, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Fabian, Karl is correct on all points. Also, I can assure you that he would be the very last person to answer a legit question with a rude response. It is very easy to misperceive written responses online, where emotional expressions such as the tone of voice or body language are absent. While there are many people who are quick to attack others based on the nature of their question, Karl (Buzztail1) certainly isn't one of them. Regards, ~TE

RE: Are Texas/Estern Coral snakes rear fanged	Reply
by Fabian on March 22, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Hey Group, Thank you for your reply. I do not know much about the coral snake. I have never studied it much. And I did think it was a rear fanged snake. As a lot of you know I have kept many different kinds of venomous snakes. from green mambas, king cobras, etc. My life's goal is to learn all I can about reptiles. I know Karl is a great guy and knows his stuff. I guess I am just on my guard on the forum because of some of the posts, like the one from anonymous about doing my own home work. I never have understood why there has to be people like that. Chris My friend, I have something to say to you to. Your post bummed me out to. You are putting me down because I did not know something and asked in the spot on your site that you put there for us to ask things like that. Then you put me down for asking it. Some what child like Chris. I will still go on asking the things I do not know here because there are a lot of good people here. Thanks for time. Fabian

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