Bite reaction

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

It might just be a reaction to injury, but most Thamnophis fans should know that garters are known to possess a very mildly toxic saliva, which may be used to slow down their prey. Since there is no delivery system, this saliva is usually just "gummed" into the bite. Most people don't have a reaction, but some people may be sensitive. As often is the case with allergic reactions, many who aren't allergic can become so later on...

Late this summer I had a hydrophilus chew on my hand for over a minute! The wound itched like mad for about 20 minutes before dissipating.

[Stefan-A]

It might just be a reaction to injury, but most Thamnophis fans should know that garters are known to possess a very mildly toxic saliva, which may be used to slow down their prey. Since there is no delivery system, this saliva is usually just "gummed" into the bite. Most people don't have a reaction, but some people may be sensitive. As often is the case with allergic reactions, many who aren't allergic can become so later on...

Late this summer I had a hydrophilus chew on my hand for over a minute! The wound itched like mad for about 20 minutes before dissipating.

Strictly speaking, it's not the saliva that's toxic, but the secretions from the Duvernoy's gland.

[CRIKEY!]

It might just be a reaction to injury, but most Thamnophis fans should know that garters are known to possess a very mildly toxic saliva, which may be used to slow down their prey. Since there is no delivery system, this saliva is usually just "gummed" into the bite. Most people don't have a reaction, but some people may be sensitive. As often is the case with allergic reactions, many who aren't allergic can become so later on...

Late this summer I had a hydrophilus chew on my hand for over a minute! The wound itched like mad for about 20 minutes before dissipating.

THAT PICTURE IS AWESOME!

guidofatherof5-
How's your hand today? Hope it's feeling better.

[guidofatherof5]

guidofatherof5-
How's your hand today? Hope it's feeling better.

It's like it never happened.

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Strictly speaking, it's not the saliva that's toxic, but the secretions from the Duvernoy's gland.

Thanks for the clarification Stefan. Of course!

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Seems there's a little dispute as to what the secretions should be called. Bryan Fry thinks Duvernoy's gland should be considered a "primitive" venom gland.

Po-tay-toes or Po-tah-toes? Pick one.

My Dipsadines (tentative placement), I presume, must all have active Duvernoy's glands. My Contia, my Diadophis, and my Hypsiglena are all "gummers"... Makes me wonder about my other colubrids... I've even had a corn snake bite itch for a while (but that bite had embedded teeth!).

[Stefan-A]

Seems there's a little dispute as to what the secretions should be called. Bryan Fry thinks Duvernoy's gland should be considered a "primitive" venom gland.

Po-tay-toes or Po-tah-toes? Pick one.

My Dipsadines (tentative placement), I presume, must all have active Duvernoy's glands. My Contia, my Diadophis, and my Hypsiglena are all "gummers"... Makes me wonder about my other colubrids... I've even had a corn snake bite itch for a while (but that bite had embedded teeth!).

There is indeed a bit of a dispute, a minor one, but it's really just semantics. Fry's and Wüster's work has been pretty groundbreaking and at the moment, they seem to have the best insight.

[DIRK]

Hi

my Thamnophis marcianus marcianus bite me a few weeks ago.. The snake chews nearly a minute on my finger...

Look at the pictures

This picture was made two days later

[Mike Spencer]

I've had countless garter bites and I too have had a few get nice and swollen and itchy. It's not big deal though. Especially since I have been envenomated by a couple rearfanged colubrids (hognose and false water cobra).

[ConcinusMan]

I was once curious about ringnecks (Diadophis punctatus) toxicity too. During a particularly wet year (spring and early summer) in San Diego, they could be found in great numbers under leaves and other natural debris, on lightly forested hillsides. None of them exceeded 6 inches in length and were slow to bite. However, if severely provoked (asking to get bit) they would grab ahold and chew. I purposely allowed them to break the skin if they could. Twice I achieved that. Broken skin, and saliva on and in the wound. Still, no reaction at all and yet I keep hearing about ringnecks having enlarged rear teeth and mildly toxic saliva. Never had a reaction to anything but a garter, gopher, or king. All were defensive bites, all were wild-caught.

EDIT: with the exception of a few enormous Southern alligator lizards. they can be viscous. bites are always painful due to their vice grip, but sometimes, I'd get a histamine reaction from them too.