Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The boomslang is a colubrid snake within the subfamily Colubrinae.It belongs to the genus Dispholidus, which contains two other species, D. pembae and D. punctatus.. The boomslang is thought to be closely related to members of the genera Thelotornis, Thrasops, Rhamnophis, and Xyelodontophis, with which it forms the taxonomic tribe Dispholidini.
The boomslang's venom is the most potent of all rear-fanged snakes in the world based on LD 50. Although its venom may be more potent than some vipers and elapids, it causes fewer fatalities owing to various factors (for example, the fangs' effectiveness is not high compared with many other snakes, the venom dose delivered is low, and ...
Boomslang: Illinois — Schmidt, a renowned herpetologist, died in Chicago while documenting the effects of a venomous bite of a snake he was trying to identify. The snake was later identified as a juvenile African boomslang. [108] July 5, 1956 Irene Raub, 18, female: Indian Cobra
Ball Python; Bird snake; Black-headed snake; Mexican black kingsnake; Black rat snake; Black snake. Red-bellied black snake; Blind snake. Brahminy blind snake
Boomslang venom causes disseminated intravascular coagulation, a condition in which so many small clots form in the blood that the victim loses the ability to clot further and bleeds to death. Later that evening, Schmidt felt slightly ill. By the next morning, the lethal effects of the venom rapidly became evident.
Furthermore, within the Colubridae, the South African boomslang and twig snakes, as well as the Asian keelback snakes (Rhabdophis sp.) have long been notorious for inflicting the worst bites on humans, with the most confirmed fatalities. [3] [5] [6]
There are also venomous colubrids in Africa, although of these only two arboreal genera, the boomslang and the twig snakes, are likely to inflict life-threatening bites. Of the Atractaspididae, Atractaspis is the species involved in the majority of bites.
When venomous snakes bite a target, they secrete venom through their venom delivery system. The venom delivery system generally consists of two venom glands, a compressor muscle, venom ducts, a fang sheath, and fangs. The primary and accessory venom glands store the venom quantities required during envenomation. The compressor muscle contracts ...