VenomousReptiles.org Survey

Survey Question	Current Survey Question Should hobbyists ever free handle venomous reptiles with their hands? Recent Surveys Most venomous/toxic Naja species in the world? I have read that the Philippine cobra is the most venomous (mice, 0.2 mg/kg SC with the lowest reported value being 0.14 mg/kg SC) (Brown, 1973). I have recently, come across something in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (Vol. 30, (issue 12), pages: 1158-1162, 1992) which stated that the LD50 for Naja oxiana was the most toxic/venomous (mice, 0.18 mg/kg SC and lowest reported value was 0.10 mg/kg). Along with that, the mortality rate for untreated Naja oxiana bites are the highest among all Naja species (70-80%). N.oxiana also produced the lowest known lethal dose (LCLo) of 0.005 mg/kg, the lowest among all cobra species ever recorded, derived from an individual case of poisoning by intracerebroventricular injection. Following N. oxiana and N. philippinensis are N. melanoleuca at 0.225 mg/kg SC and then N. samarensis at 0.23 mg/kg. The water cobras (N. annulata and N. christyi also have very toxic venoms, but no SC values are listed. Only intraperitoneal (IP) values of 0.143 mg/kg for N. annulata and 0.12 mg/kg for N. christyi. IP values tend to be generally lower (more toxic than subcutaneous values, so it would be unfair to compare their IP results to the subcutaneous (SC) results of other Naja species. Then I have heard that (without solid evidence) that Naja nivea is the most venomous, although their murine SC LD50 range anywhere from 0.4 mg/kg (Toxicon, Vol. 5, issue 1, page 47, 1967) to 0.72 mg/kg (Australian venoms and toxins Databse). So which is the most venomous? To me it seems obvious that it is the Caspian or Oxus cobra (Naja oxiana), followed by the Philippine cobra (Naja philippinensis). What do you think or know? I've noticed that the Australian venom and toxin Database seems to have higher LD50 values for all snakes across the board. For example, for the black mamba IP value of 0.01 mg/kg is listed (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/004101018890219X) and Ernst and Zug et al 1996, list a SC value of 0.05 mg/kg for the black mamba. While the Australian venom and toxin Database listed much less toxic LD50's. So there seems to be a lot of variation. 2014-01-23 What's Your Favorite Venomous Snake? 2013-11-13 Deadliest Bite? 2013-09-16 IF the science of self-immunization for a snake envenomation was proven/perfected what is the least benefit(percentage) you would accept before practicing it on yourself? 2013-06-06 how did you learn to keep venomous reptiles? 2013-03-02 View All Survey Questions Have a good idea for a VenomousReptiles.org Survey question? Enter your idea!
Thanks for voting! Your vote has been included in the results below. If you could make a fully funded six week herping trip to only one of the following exotic locations, which would you choose (and why)?   Posted: Jul 29, 2004   (280 votes, 19 comments) by Chris_Harper
Survey Results
Swamps and jungles of New Guinea 10% (27) Jungles of Borneo 5% (14) Amazon rainforest of Peru and Brazil 35% (97) Jungles of southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand) 21% (59) Ashmore Reef, 30hrs northwest of Broome, Western Australia (Sea snake capital of the world ) 10% (27) Paddi-fields of Sri Lanka 5% (15) Deserts, savannas and swamps of Botswana 15% (41)
Survey Comments
Ashmore Reef I think Ashmore Reef would be better. You could explore the sea snakes population during the mating season and with any extra time I might have I could explore the snake population of New Zealand, Australia. You can do a lot in 6 weeks, with luck. Posted by 1justme2 on November 22, 2004 sea snakes ashmore reef, ive only seen seasnakes from the boat around darwin, at the top of australia. it would be so different to see sea snakes Posted by aussieherper on October 23, 2004 oky doky froky?? I chose for the one reason listed ..what he handles as far as snakes listed. Posted by dizz on August 21, 2004 Amazon Just returned from Amazon basin of Peru - also just joined this site... lots of opportunity to structure a trip to suit and some very decent lodging available along the way. Bushmasters heard but not seen, fer de lance observed, that's all, but we weren't going specifically to find snakes. Posted by KarenS9172 on August 18, 2004 Amazon rainforest Botswana sounds nice, but the assortment of vipers and boas in the amazon is too great to pass up. Posted by Martyr_Machine on August 17, 2004 Asia Find some Echis and maybe some Protobothrops. Quite possibly my dream. Posted by ChurleR on August 9, 2004 Paddi-fields of Sri Lanka Looking for Russels, and the possibility of working in a Hospital treating the high incident of snake bite,some 30,000 per year and 800 fatalties.Heavy going for a small Island. John Posted by Rabies on August 4, 2004 Botswana Botswana is great, but lacks the variety of KwaZulu-Natal, but then I'm biased. Posted by armata on August 4, 2004 Jungles of southeast Asia King Cobra, Baby!!!! Posted by Irishviper on August 2, 2004 The Paddi -Fields! I think the New Guinea jungles would be awsome. You can see Death Adders, Chondros, and many more. But for me, I'm going with the paddi fields of Sri Lanka. Nothing would be better uncovering some Russells Viper, Sri Lanka spectacled cobras, and tons of other species. I think that would be the best trip. Posted by FlVenom18 on July 31, 2004 Brazil and Peru I chose the Br and Peru, only because the herps there are so close to the Costa Rican trip I'd rather take...LOL. So perhaps if I was sent to Peru, I'd probably take up serpents like the ancients did and swear to the Sun God and pillage the women and rape the fields...yeah that's the ticket. Posted by Dadee on July 30, 2004 Oz. outback anybody? I chose the Thailand option; I've always watned to go to that part of Asia anyway. that said, I wish the Oz. outback was included. Monitors, assorted elapids, cool geckos, etc. That would be an awesome place to herp. I think pretty much everyone here should agree ;) Posted by paulw on July 30, 2004 amazon area well as much as i'd love to see gabbys andthe like up close and personal the lure of seeing emerald tree boas in their natural habitat has won it for me :) can i spen 3 weeks in each place? lol Posted by mat on July 30, 2004 Botswana I love Africa and african herps. I chose Botswana but my second choise would be Brasil and Peru. I love Puff Adders, Gabbyes, Mambas and African Cobras as well as savanah moniters and Nile Crocs. Yep...Botswana would defenitly do it for me. Posted by Snake17 on July 30, 2004 african vipers I think botswana would be the most fruitful of all the choices. Posted by xvenomx on July 30, 2004 botswana well a six week trip to botswana would be brilliant i grew up in the country next door to botswana and always wanted to go there. i love african animals specially snakes and crocodiles. so that is why i want to go to botswana Posted by zimbo_dude on July 29, 2004 New Guinea I believe that New Guinea now has the second largest rainforest, since the African one is much smaller than it was before. New Guinea appears to be the region least disturbed. There are tons of awesome herps, birds, and insects that I would love to see there. Plus there should be many places in the interior with very few people. There is a lot of survey work that still needs to be done in New Guinea and there are surely many more species that need to be discovered. Normally I would have to say the Amazon but it looks like I may be going to the Bolivian Amazon for 3 to 4 weeks over Christmas break to survey herps. So I chose New Guinea. Southeast Asia would be awesome too, especially northern Burma and the Yunnan province of China. Robert Posted by Snakeman1982 on July 29, 2004 Thialand is a place I have always wanted to go the diversity of reptiles is amazing but sri lanka is very tempting Im a sucker for cobras Posted by elapidking81 on July 29, 2004 Botswana A 6 week fully funded trip to the wilds of Botswana would THE trip of a lifetime for me: the Kalahari desert, the Okavongo Delta -- wow. That's something I've dreamed about. Now, will I be able to take my Jeep Wrangler? It has a Warn 9500ti winch, you know. Posted by Chris_Harper on July 29, 2004 To post a comment, you must be logged in. If you are not a member, become one now!