Opistoglyphs

[adamanteus]

Hi All,

Anybody interested enough to want to discuss the potency of venom in opistoglyphous snakes?

In the UK we have the "Dangerous Wild Animals Act", which controls the keeping of animals which pose a threat to humans. As far as snakes are concerned it covers all the proteroglyphs, all the solenoglyphs and certain named opistoglyphs...this is where it falls down....the list of controlled opistoglyphs seems (to me) to be random or at best based on rumour, outdated research or simply on snake size.

Let me explain what I mean. Obviously, the Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) and the Twig Snake (Thelotornis capensis) are listed, and rightly so. But also listed are the Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) and the Mangrove Snake (Boiga dendrophila). I have kept Mangrove Snakes in the past, I have been bitten (and indeed chewed) by this species and suffered no ill effects. I have also kept the Cat-Eyed Snake (Boiga cyanea), which is not considered dangerous. (Incidentally, I also had the first UK captive breeding of this species!) Mangrove Snakes, being arboreal, strike and seize their prey from above, this strike is normally followed by immediate constriction (in the case of rodent prey). So the prey is killed/subdued by a combination of envenomation and constriction. However, in the Cat-Eyed Snake the same capture method is employed, but constriction rarely follows, as envenomation appears to be sufficient. I have timed the feeding from strike to death of prey and seen a grown mouse die in as little as seven seconds! Which is rapid by any standards!

So the point is, because the Cat-Eyed Snake is placcid and easy to handle, and smaller than it's aggressive Mangrove cousin, it is pressumed to be harmless. Personally I believe this species to be venomous in the extreme. However, no serious research appears to have been done.

So guys, any of you had dealings or experience with opistoglyphous snake species?

[KITKAT]

I have no experience with any of these snakes, but I would say you should do the research, find a college prof or herpetologist willing to co-author with you, and publish!

(I am published in mammalogy by this method... I am the only North American to date, to observe caravanning behavior in a North American species of shrew.)

[CrazyHedgehog]

no, but when you publish your book James, can I have a signed copy?

[drache]

me too, me too please

[adamanteus]

That sounds like an awful lot of work, for a book that very few people would want to read! I only wanted to chat about it, not become an author!

[drache]

okay, that's good too
you guys chat
I'll sit back, listen and learn

[adamanteus]

Actually, I already wrote a book once, a few years ago. The title is longer than the book!
"A Guide to the Distinction Between Venomous and Non-Venomous Snake Species".
I sold the book and the publishing rights to the MOD, so it's not on general sale.

[adamanteus]

I would say you should do the research.

I would love to do the research, but there is the problem of availability of Boiga cyanea in the UK. If anybody knows where I can obtain this species again, I'd like hear about it.

[KITKAT]

That sounds like an awful lot of work, for a book that very few people would want to read! I only wanted to chat about it, not become an author!

Clarification...

When I said "publish" I was not talking about BOOKS. My own article on shrew behavior was published in the Journal of Mammalogy. I got nothing financial from it, only the satisfaction of contributing to scientific knowlege.

I am sure there are scientific journals that would welcome a research results article on this subject, and that is what I referred to when I said you could do the research and publish.

[adamanteus]

These past few weeks I've been thinking about what you said, KITKAT. And you know what, I might just do it. After the summer, when I've finished spending all my hard earned on baby Garters I'm going to build a taller, arboreal viv and try to obtain Boiga cyanea again.

If anyone in the UK or Europe knows where I can get them, I'm delighted to hear from you.

Maybe some of our newer members have had dealings with opistoglyphous snakes, and may have comments to add here?