Fer-de-lance

Fer-de-lance, any of several extremely venomous snakes of the viper family (Viperidae) found in diverse habitats from cultivated lands to forests throughout tropical America and tropical Asia. The fer-de-lance, known in Spanish as barba amarilla (“yellow chin”), is a pit viper (subfamily Crotalinae)—i.e., distinguished by a small sensory pit between each eye and nostril. It has a broad triangular head and is usually about 1.2 to 2 metres (4 to 7 feet) long. It is gray or brown, marked by a series of black-edged diamonds often bordered in a lighter colour. Its bite can be fatal to humans.


The common French name fer-de-lance, or “lance head,” originally referred to the Martinique lancehead (Bothrops lanceolatus) found on the island of the same name in the West Indies. Several authoritative sources, however, frequently apply the name to the terciopelo (B. asper) and the common lancehead (B. atrox) of South America. The name fer-de-lance has also been used collectively to describe all snakes of the Central and South American genus Bothrops and the Asian genus Trimeresurus.Among these snakes, all venomous, are the habus (T. flavoviridis and related species, such as Wagler’s pit viper [T. wagleri]); the jararaca (B. jararaca); the wutu, or urutu (B. alternatus); and the jumping viper, or tommygoff (B. nummifera).





Jararaca (Bothrops jararaca).

Dade Thornton—The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers

Wagler’s pit viper (Trimeresurus wagleri).

Copyright © 1971 Z. Leszczynski/Animals Animals

The Okinawa habu (T. flavoviridis) is a large, aggressive snake found on the Amami and Okinawa island chains in the Ryukyu Islands, often in human dwellings. It is usually about 1.5 metres (5 feet) long and is marked with bold, dark green blotches that may merge to form a wavy longitudinal band. Its venom is not especially potent but sometimes causes disability or death.

The jararaca, or yarará, is found chiefly in Brazil, where it is abundant in grassy regions. Its bite causes many deaths. It usually grows to about 1.2 metres (4 feet) and is olive-brown or grayish brown with darker brown blotches. In Argentina the name yarará also serves as an alternative name for the wutu and the Patagonian lancehead (B. ammodytoides). The wutu, a dangerous South American snake, is about 1.2 metres long. It is brown, boldly marked on its sides with thick dark semicircles outlined in yellow.

The jumping viper is an aggressive brown or gray Central American snake with diamond-shaped crosswise markings on its back. It is usually about 60 cm (2 feet) long. It strikes so energetically that it may lift itself off the ground. Its venom, however, is not especially dangerous to humans.

Black Mamba

e Black Mamba is the most deadly snake in the world. They grow 14 feet in length, and can travel at speeds of up to 12 mph. They have a head shaped like a coffin. The Black Mamba is not actually black. They have a brownish-gray body with a light belly and brownish scales along its back. It gets its name from the color of the lining of its mouth, which is purple-black, and which it displays when threatened.


The Black Mamba lives in South Africa. They like open, low habitats such as savannas, rocky places and open woodlands. They are active during the day. They often sleep in hollow trees, burrows, rock crevices, or empty termite mounds, and will come back to the same place every night.

The Black Mambas feed on small mammals and birds, like voles, rats, squirrels, mice, rats, or bush babies. Once a Mamba was found with a parrot in its stomach, another with a full grown Forest Cobra! It will strike a large animal and then release it. It then stalks their victim until it becomes paralyzed. With smaller animals it will strike and hold on until the animal becomes paralyzed. Its flexible jaws and scales makes it possible to eat the animal whole.

Several weeks after a pair of mamba mate, the female will find a good place to lay 6-17 eggs. The burrow must be damp but not wet, and warm, but not too hot. After she lays her eggs the female leaves. The young snakes are about 16-24 inches long when they hatch three months later. They reach maturity when they are 3-4 feet in length.

The Black Mambas are found in pairs or small groups. They are very nervous, and head away fast when a human approaches. When the mamba feels threatened it will raise its front and head about 3-4 feet off the ground, open its mouth, spread a flat hood, and shake its head. When they attack they will make several quick strikes, and escape as fast as they can. They can strike from 4-6 feet away. Before antivenins were developed, a black mamba bite was 100% fatal.

They are invulnerable, because no animal can actually kill them. Their venom can kill just about anything, so they don't have much to worry about. The mamba is mainly threatened by habitat destruction.

by Allison F.  2000.

HOW DANGEROUS ARE COPPERHEAD SNAKES?

A Copperhead snake bite needs medical attention, is extremely painful, and may cause extensive scarring and loss of use. Many people are bitten while trying to kill or handle the snake. Don't take chances -- avoid these snakes.

"Copperhead bites are typically not fatal," says Dr. Peter Bromley, N. C. Cooperative Extension Specialist in Zoology. Small animals, like small dogs, may receive a fatal bite from a copperhead. The venom causes local tissue destruction and secondary infection often sets in. If you or your pet are bitten by any snake that you suspect is venomous, get medial attention immediately. For the most part, if you let snakes alone, they'll leave you alone.

North Carolina has the dubious distinction of the most venomous snake bites of any state in the U.S. Many of these bites could be prevented by avoiding the snake instead of trying to kill it or pick it up. Avoid Copperhead snakes! Allow it to go on its way undisturbed. Copperheads bite more people in most years than any other U.S. species, but they also have the mildest venom. University of Georgia Professor Dr. Whit Gibbons is conducting research to learn why copperheads inflict the most bites.

All the snake species tested have had the same initial response to human presence. If given the opportunity, they escape--down a hole, under a ledge, or in the case of cottonmouths, into the water. Escape is even the standard behavior of enormous diamondback rattlesnakes, which will immediately disappear if they have enough warning before they think a person can reach them.

But often escape is not possible, so most snakes hold their ground, ready to defend themselves. A difference between copperheads and the other species appears in the next phase, when they are approached. Most rattlesnakes vibrate their tails and most cottonmouths sit with mouth open when a human comes near. Even some non-venomous snakes vibrate their tails. These displays are merely warnings not to tread on them. They are not aggressive attack measures. The snakes just want us to leave them alone.

So far, the dozens of cottonmouths Dr. Gibbons stood beside have made threat displays but have not bitten the researcher's boot. The same has been true for canebrake rattlesnakes although too few have been tested to declare that they are as passive as cottonmouths. The exciting news (at least for the researchers) is that the copperhead is different from the others. Most copperheads tested have struck out immediately when they felt threatened.

This behavior explains why more people receive legitimate snakebites from copperheads than from any other species of venomous snake in North America. Still to be investigated is another aspect of copperhead bites: many are not serious enough to require more than minor medical treatment. This may be so not only because the venom of a copperhead is significantly less potent than that of rattlesnakes or cottonmouths, but also because they seldom inject much venom.

The copperhead's initial threat display is to strike. It lashes out at an enemy as a warning. If the enemy is close enough, the fangs may penetrate the skin. However, because this is a threat display, not an attempt to kill, the snake injects little venom. A copperhead has no intention of wasting valuable venom if it can scare away the menace with a minor bite.

Keep in mind, however, that even a non-fatal bite needs medical attention, is extremely painful, and may cause extensive scarring and loss of use. Don't take chances-- avoid these snakes.

Whit Gibbons is the Senior Professor of Ecology at the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in Aiken, South Carolina.

Snake Venom: Bungarotoxins

Venom: an arsenal of toxins

 

Many-banded krait

Venomous snakes are found throughout the world; they are even lurking in our oceans.  Said to cause over 3 million bites a year worldwide, they pose a significant health problem both in mortality and morbidity, causing amputations and renal failure, in addition to over 100,000 deaths a year.  The major culprits are vipers, elapids, colubrids and sea snakes.  Of these, elapids such as cobras and kraits have developed the most potent toxins.  Snake venoms contain a multitude of biologically active toxins that work together for the capture of prey (take a look at the Table listing the variety of toxins found in the venom of the many-banded krait).  Their effects include pro- and anti-blood coagulation, neurotoxicity, mycotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and necrotoxicity (local tissue damage). Amongst these, the neurotoxins play a key role in immobilising prey through paralysis, disorientation and depressed respiration.

            Venoms often contain different neurotoxins that work synergistically to cripple the nervous system.  Neurotoxins can be classified according to their site of action: pre-synaptic neurotoxins block neurotransmission by affecting acetylcholine transmitter release; post-synaptic neurotoxins are antagonists of the acetylcholine receptor.  Together these neurotoxins effectively block skeletal neuromuscular transmission by crippling receptors, while at the same time acting to destroy any neurotransmitter that might compete with the toxin for receptor binding.  Venoms often contain several post-synaptic neurotoxins, each with a high affinity for a nicotinic receptor subtype - in this way the venom can cripple as many receptors as possible.  The post-synaptic neurotoxins are found only in elapids and sea snakes (Hydrophiidae).  In the many-banded krait pictured above, a pre-synaptic toxin is b-bungarotoxin, while post-synaptic toxins are a‑ and k-bungarotoxins. 



Milking a snake

Photographs courtesy of B. G. Fry, Australian Venom Research Unit, Melbourne, Australia

Gaboon Viper

The West African gaboon viper or (Bitis Gabonica) is the largest out of all the old world vipers. There have been individuals found up to 7 feet but an average of 6 feet is more common. They are also one of the most beautiful of all snakes. In the wild their strikingly marked bodies are near impossible to see among the ground and leaf litter. These guys are ambush predators that sit and wait for a meal to come walking through the game trail. They have the largest fangs of any venomous snake in the world. The fangs can grow up to two inches in length. Their natural habitat consists of dense forested areas and humid grassy areas.

LOCALITY

The West African gaboon viper inhabits Guinea, The Ivory Coast, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Benin, Angola, The Congo, and Gabon.

CAPTIVE HUSBANDRY

Keeping bitis species can be a very rewarding species to keep as long as every single requirement is met in order to keep them healthy and thriving. Correct temperature and humidity levels MUST be maintained and monitored every day.

TEMPERATURES

They live in tropical forests and do not do well in hot climates. They like it on the cool side. In some part of their range they almost never see direct sunlight in the wild.

DAY TIME TEMPS

On the cool end of the cage temps should be between 70 and 75 degrees.

On the warm end of the cage the temps should be between 75 to 85 degrees, maximum.

Temps at night can drop 5 to 8 degrees. I use light bulbs to heat the cage during the day and nothing at all for the night time. You can offer your animal a basking spot but they will hardly if ever use it.

HUMIDITY

The humidity levels for this species should be between 60% to 80%. You can allow it to drop a little if you will be cycling them for breeding…… This can only go on for a short period of time. Bitis’ can dehydrate very quickly. Too much humidity without proper ventilation can cause scale rot and upper respiratory infections. Too little and you will wind up with very jerky snake.

 HYDRATION

As mentioned above, the Bitis Gabonica can dehydrate very quickly. There are a few tricks I have learned over the years to keep them hydrated.

Always keep a clean supply of drinking water in the cage. Gaboons do not readily drink from standing water supplies but they will drink from one if they happen to stumble upon it in their travels.

Vipers

Vipers are found throughout most of the world, but arguably the most venomous is the Saw Scaled Viper and the Chain Viper, found primarily in the Middle East and Central Asia, particularly India, China and South East Asia. Vipers are quick tempered and generally nocturnal, often active after rains. They are also very fast. Most of these species have venom that cause symptoms that begin with pain at the site of the bite, immediately followed by swelling of the affected extremity. Bleeding is a common symptom, especially from the gums. There is a drop in blood pressure and the heart rate falls. Blistering occurs at the site of the bite, developing along the affected limb in severe cases. Necrosis is usually superficial and limited to the muscles near the bite, but may be severe in extreme cases. Vomiting and facial swelling occurs in about one-third of all cases. Severe pain may last for 2-4 weeks. Often, local swelling peaks within 48-72 hours, involving the affected limb. Discoloration may occur throughout the swollen area as red blood cells and plasma leak into muscle tissue. Death from septicaemia, respiratory or cardiac failure may occur 1 to 14 days post-bite, or even later.

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The White Lipped Tree Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris)

These are one of the more common of the vipers found in the pet trade due to their large geographic range, being easy to keep, well tempered and having mild venom. These are pit vipers; they are called this because they have little pits just below the eye, which they use to detect prey through heat sensitive vision, so even in total darkness these snakes can view there prey. Whit-Lipped Tree Vipers and Pope’s Pit Vipers are they most well known representatives of the genus Trimeresuruswhich consists of 36 species known as the Asian Pit Vipers and the Bamboo Vipers.

They are sexually dimorphic with only the males having a white stripe running the full length of the body. They are electric green with a bright yellowish to green under-side. The tail is a brick red colour. The females are considerably larger than the males, up to 81cm and the males, 60cm. The males tend to stay rather skinny, while the females get quite fat and stocky.

Males are able to mate at a fairly small size, while the females will only give consent to mate once they are of adequate size. This could take up to two years. They breed in our winter months and while this is happening, males will stop eating completely. My male did not so much as look at food for four months, but as soon as it warms up they will start to feed, but as long as the male is kept with the female, he will refuse food even if it starts to warm up. Females generally drop at the end of November through to December. An average clutch can be from 12 to 15 young, but exceptional clutches of between 25 and 30 have been recorded.

Their geographic range is large, stretching from Northern India, Nicobar Islands, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Southern China, Fukien, Hong Kong to West Malaysia, Indonesia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Komodo, Flores, Sumba, Roti, Timor, Kisar and Wetar.

The habitat which they are found in is tropical bush where the humidity is high and temperatures are hot, between 27 and 30 degrees centigrade. In captivity, the same conditions must be provided, but it’s been found that they prefer the temperature to be slightly cooler, with the ambient temperature being between 27 and 28 degrees with it dropping down to 26 degrees at night. They do not like it to be wet, nor do they like it to be dry, so you should mist your terrarium about three times a week. This encourages the snake to drink the droplets off its body, as White Lipped Tree Vipers’ seldom venture onto the surface below in search of water, but fresh water must always be provided. These snakes are completely arboreal, so adequate perching spots must be provided. Terrariums do not have to be big. The best are the largest size of the Exo-Terra tanks, which are more than suitable for these snakes.

Trimeresurus albolabris isn’t deadly. It has hinged fangs and mild cytotoxic venom (cell destroying) which can cause tissue damage around the area which has been bitten. Fatalities are very rare even among people native to the snake’s habitat where there are little or no medical facilities. They’re receiving (more dangerous) bites to the upper extremities, often being bitten while tending to Banana trees. Trimeresurus albolabris is slightly less venomous than Copperheads as far as dangerous venomous snakes goes. It doesn’t mean it’s impossible for the snake to severely injure you, it just means it’s not very likely. They’re bite will however still cause you extreme pain and remind you that being bitten is not fun.

Feeding these snakes is simple once you get it right. White Lipped Tree Vipers prefer to eat at night as they are nocturnal but it’s not vital and usually these snakes will feed during the day. Feeding of new borns is slightly more difficult as they do not accept pinks straight away and prefer them to be scented. To do this you need to catch the right type of frog as you can’t just use your common Guttural Toad. The frogs that work the best are the Painted Reed Frog (Hyperolius marmoratus). In the wet season they are abundant in Natal being found in and around any surface water that has aquatic or semi aquatic plant life around it which provides shelter and a place for mating to take place, ponds, dams, wet lands and even large puddles along side roads will have these frogs in them. The easiest way to find these frogs is to listen for them. They make a very high pitched squeak or whistle and usually where there is one there is many. To scent you need to take your pre-killed pink and leave it to soak in luke warm water for 10 to 15 seconds (you know the water is to hot if the pink starts to change colour) then you have to take your Painted Reed Frog and gently rub it over the pink several times. Once you have done this you will need to use tongs which is vital for feeding any venomous snakes, and softly nudge the young snake on the body and tail. If the snake is bumped on the head repeatedly it usually will become disinterested and prefer to get away rather than strike. By tease feeding you are trying to get the snake to strike at the pink and most of the time when it does strike it will hold on and have a feeding response, but this requires a lot of time and patients and with a little perseverance your snake should be eating well.

There is no need to kill the frog as a freshly killed frog and one that’s alive smell the same to the snake. Its best to keep the frogs you have caught, which will make it easier in the dry winter months when these frogs disappear completely. The best way to keep these frogs is to use a small Exo-Terra tank with a fish tank pump to filter the water and some aquatic plants and a branch for the frogs to perch on. A plant grow florescent tube will be beneficial for plant growth but is not necessary for the frogs. They will feed on small crickets which can be bought at most pet stores. Maintenance is low with keeping these frogs and if they are in a nicely displayed tank they are quite rewarding.

Keeping these snakes is fairly simple and I’d recommend the White Lipped Tree Viper for those who would like to get into venomous as they are fairly docile, not deadly and when displayed properly are very beautiful to look at. Most of the information I have provided has been from my own experiences and findings and may vary from keeper to keeper.