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. Do you road cruise for snakes?   Posted: Apr 10, 2003   (614 votes, 16 comments) by Chris_Harper
Survey Results
Yes 64% (394) No 36% (220)
Survey Comments
Road Cruising!!! I go road cruising any chance that I get. I have had success every single time so far this summer. The key is being able to predict the weather before I head out. If it's at least 75 degrees F, I always see something although 85 degrees is when I have the most success. So far, I've caught 1 mountain patchnose, 1 striped whipsnake, 2 prarie rattlesnakes, 1 western diamondback, 2 massasaugas, several bullsnakes, about half a dozen glossy snakes, a western hognose, 1 common kingsnake, and have just barely missed a longnose snake roadkill. The only thing that I like about finding a recent roadkill is knowing the snakes are out. On many nights when the weather is good, even on the weekends, I'd rather go road cruising in my Corolla than drive my Dodge Viper GTS around town! Snakes rule! Posted by CrotAlanis on July 7, 2003 Road Hunting I live in Va. but have spent several years in NM and every chance I get I travel west to road hunt there in July or August. There are paved roads that traverse 80 miles of barren desert and on any given night between 9pm and 1am I will usually see and catch; 5 western diamondbacks (36"-55") 6-8 prairie rattlers (28"-40") 1 or 2 desert massasaguas (15"-22") and 1 or 2 Green?Mojave rattlers (24"-38"). There is the occassional blacktailed rattler but they are rare. Sonora gopher snakes (50"-72") are very common as are desert kings (small) and longnosed snakes (15"-28"). From my experience road hunting in NC, VA, FL, and NV for the shear number of snakes per mile traveled NM can not be beat. Posted by Chevy on April 29, 2003 road cruise yeah i road cruise for snakes and where i live in the summer time you can find them all over the road Posted by scared4569 on April 24, 2003 road cruising Every night, over the last 3 nites, 2 southern waters, 1 cotton, 1coachwhip one black racer, 1brown and gold corn-4ft. and an awsome scarlet-18 inches. All photoed and released. Seen probably 15 flat snakes though, including a diamondback and a beutiful blood red corn. Brings a tear! Jason, Waycross GA. Posted by jabcafish on April 16, 2003 can't yet I am not old enough to go to colldge but i plan on getting a masters in biological and zooilogical science. plz ecusse the spelling LONG isn't it Posted by WDB_999 on April 16, 2003 I wish i could I wish i could but i don't have my liscense. Besides i live in michigan All we have are garden, ribon, Ocasinoal hognose, and it is rare to find a rattler Posted by WDB_999 on April 16, 2003 Its fun It allows me to get photos and thanks to road cruising i found a snake i never seen before. Posted by HERPER4 on April 15, 2003 Road cruising for snakes... No, but if I see a snake on the road, I will usually stop and move it off the road. I don't keep snakes as pets, but I allow the poisonous (and non poisonous snakes) that we have on our property to live unmolested. If I see one, I turn and go the other way. There is a cotton mouth that lives under a lumber pile here, and early every morning he lays on top to warm in the sun and then when the day heats up, he moves into a more shaded area. I enjoy seeing him there every day. I call him Mister Twister. Posted by byugal on April 14, 2003 road cruisin' I Don't, since I haven't got my licence yet, and since there aren't that many snakes to see over here in Holland.. Peter Posted by Snakeskin on April 14, 2003 Na One of my favorite parts of herpin is getting out there. traversing the mountains and streams until I get to the den, which usualy has a beautiful view. Chris Posted by surucucu on April 12, 2003 Odd Question! I have looked for snakes while roadcruising both on the East Coast and West Coast of the United States. Almost every single animal was photographed and released. I find roadcruising in desert habitats to be much more productive (in my personal experience) than any other habitat. However, to be perfectly honest, The Boss and I find the vast majority of our snakes that we photograph by walking the edge between the woods and fields. Karl Posted by Buzztail1 on April 12, 2003 i like road krussing with my dad. we cach copperheds and rattle snkes. collin Posted by cottonmouth on April 11, 2003 that's what most of the miles on my jeep are from! generally just counting species and moving them off the road, but when I find something out of the ordinary or really nice, it finds it's way home with me. It does get depressing seeing so many DORs but it makes ya feel that much better when you can get a nice adult off the road in time. I'll also cruise a couple of nights right before I do a talk to pick up the animals I don't keep, like water snakes, ribbons, mudsnakes, etc- then release them after the talk with a quick thank you for thier time. -LL Posted by venom on April 11, 2003 Oh my goodness, that is the most fun in the world. I can't think of anything more fun for a reptile lover than to cruise the old dark roads at night. That's how I have most of my collection!!!!!!!! Posted by chewwy on April 11, 2003 NC is my usual stompin ground, but I manage to hit SC and Va as well. I mainly move the animals off the road or document the live ones (since alot more are found on the road dead) and sometimes take a nice copper or two to add to my group. Its the lazy herpers huntin spot, Jared Posted by jared on April 11, 2003 ALLWAYS ON THE LOOK-OUT! Posted by toxicbite on April 10, 2003 To post a comment, you must be logged in. If you are not a member, become one now!