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!
If you were to find a near record sized snake in the wild, what would you do?   Posted: Apr 29, 2001   (329 votes, 15 comments) by Buzztail1   Catch it and take it home for your collection.   Catch it and take it home to sell.   Take pictures of it and let it go.   Not mess with it and just let it be.   Run, screaming from "the woods" (insert any type of habitat here) and vow to never go back.   There's snakes out in the wild?     (329 votes, 15 comments)
Survey Results
Catch it and take it home for your collection. 25% (81) Catch it and take it home to sell. 5% (18) Take pictures of it and let it go. 49% (161) Not mess with it and just let it be. 15% (48) Run, screaming from "the woods" (insert any type of habitat here) and vow to never go back. 3% (11) There's snakes out in the wild? 3% (10)
Survey Comments
YEAH COME ON Posted by Bellerophon on October 3, 2001 record snake I'd catch it, photograph it, and observe it a little. PV Posted by pit_viper on August 28, 2001 record size / survey I recently encountered a huge dusky pygmy rattler.This snake was at least 30 inches, probably more.I've taken hundreds of photos of these little guys and all have been under 2 feet.I do have some photos of this big one, but with no real scale reference, it's hard to judge. Posted by Anonymous on August 28, 2001 CGRO Thats exactly why they should stay in the wild. If they have superior genes, those genes need to be passed on as many times as posible to help stregthen the wild population. Breeding them in captivity doesnt help out the wild population unless the offspring are released back into the same area the adult came from and quite frankly, they can do it just fine all on their own. Takeing a snake to study its genes dosent benifit the species . Being out there banging and or getting banged is what does the trick. Man needs to stop sticking his nose into everything. IMHO of cource. Also, in my mind, its a matter of respect. If a snake has fought all of its life to become the big dominate worm it is, it deserves to live out its life were it started it at and were it can be benificial to the wild population. Most WC adult specimens, as filthy made mention to, usualy will not fare well in captive conditions and will not eat so how can you try and breed a snake that will not adapt and act naturally? Im sorry if this sounds harsh and I am by no means trying to bash you but this is a very touchy subject for me and I have speak my mind. Take care and thanks for conversing. Later, Jeremy Posted by TAIPAN78 on May 16, 2001 reply to taipan78 I mentioned nothing about killing the record size snake. There is a program in the state of Texas which takes in very large and near record sized bass taht have been captured for research and breeding. A great deal has been learned about the habits of these larger fish which differ from younger ones. I'm sure a similar program can be adopted to suit record sized snakes. It is obvioius that they probably have superior gentic qualitites that help them to survive so long. There is also a host of other things that can be learned from such large, elder animals. Especially in dealing with an animal that we know so little about anyway. Posted by CGRO on May 16, 2001 Disagree with CGRO... How can you say a huge record specimen is better off for all parties concerned, taken from its home and probed and killed the name of research? How do you know a record specimen is near the end of its life? Exactly, you dont. Record specimens are the same as large specimens. They need to be left be so they can reproduce and spread those genes. Obviously, a record sized specimen is doing somthing right and has dominated its enviroment so who are we to decide its future over our meaningless wants to be the guy or gal who caught the 8 ft EDB or 6ft cotton. Take pictures and let the thing be. It has paid its dues and deserves to be were it outa be, in the wild. Later, Jeremy Posted by TAIPAN78 on May 16, 2001 Record size snakes Were not talking just "big" snakes here but record size snakes. Snakes of this size have probably reached near the ned of their life span and would be served better (for all involved) to be captured and researched. More can be learned from such old, record sized adults than by just anonymously letting it go. As far as just capturing large adults, well, that's a different matter. They should be left to breed. But, record sized animals are typically near the end of life, and we could bebifit greatly from the research gained. Posted by CGRO on May 15, 2001 Happily yet reluctantly I would let it go. But where I live now you don't see anything but garter snakes, all 2' or less....Eric Posted by Eric on May 14, 2001 huh oh man this is weird Posted by Anonymous on May 12, 2001 huge Bitis arietans found a big arientans in Kenia catched it took it home. before the bushman came killded it, grilled it and eat it. Posted by Anonymous on May 3, 2001 let it go? Sell that thing to a zoo before some yahoo runs over it with a pick-em-up truck. Its offspring is all over those woods. Posted by Boaz on May 2, 2001 Big Snake When I lived in a certain in south Georgia I saw this huge cottonmouth . He was coiled up on the grass he had to be estimated at 6 foot + . The snake was so big it looked like a 33 inch tire . But I did not have the equipment to capture ,record info and release . I still know the location if anyone wants to go and record the snake . Casabela28 Posted by casabela28 on May 1, 2001 Big Wild Snakes belong in the wild making little snakes, passing on those genes for their large size. Too many of our large snakes have been removed from the wild and they are becoming harder to find. The photographs of my large Cottonmouth are available at the Photo Album here and the snake itself is still out there in the wild. Still out there looking, Karl Posted by Buzztail1 on April 30, 2001 Record Copperhead I captured photographed & released a near record Copperhead in New York State. The record was (is) 53 inches, the specimen I ran across was 51 inches. Makes no sense to do anything but document it and release it. Posted by Phobos on April 30, 2001 Big snake I voted 'run screaming' because this is kind of a silly question. No point in collecting it because the old timers rarely do well in captivity. What I would really do is catch it, document and verify it, get it in Guiness, then put it back where I found it. Gotta keep those big genes in the population. Then, I would shamelessly bore to distraction anyone I could get to listen with the story. f Posted by filthy on April 30, 2001 To post a comment, you must be logged in. If you are not a member, become one now!