Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
dangerous (Weinstein and Keyler, 2009).
6
They should not be subject to regulation or
restriction. Captive specimens should be handled with care, particularly during feeding
or after handling potential prey items.
Assessment of
Heterodon
spp. based on available evidence: Hazard Level 3
(see
Table 4.3
)
4.2.5 Genera
Hemorrhois
spp.,
Platyceps
spp.,
Hierophis
spp., and
Coluber
spp.: Background and General Features of Documented
Bites
The colubrine genera
Coluber
(North American racers, approximately 23 species;
see
Plate 4.80A and B
),
Platyceps
(Old World whipsnakes or racers, eight species;
see Plates 4.13A-C and 4.14),
Hierophis
(Old World whipsnakes, three species; see
Plates 4.16A-D and 4.81
), and
Hemorrhois
(Asian racers, four species; see Plate
4.23A-C) occupy a wide variety of biotopes that reflect their geographic distribution
and opportunistic/nonfastidious diet (see
Table 4.2
for examples). Medically signifi-
cant bites consisting of only mild local effects, such as lacerations/puncture wounds,
mild edema, erythema, and, occasionally, blistering, have been reported for several
taxa (
Table 4.1
). Among
Platyceps
spp., case reports have included
P. najadum
(Dahl's whipsnake; Plate 4.13A-C) and
P. rhodorachis
(Jan's desert or wadi racer;
Plate 4.14;
Table 4.1
). A very unusual case involving a presumed
P. najadum
bite is
discussed in Section 4.4. Several authors have published data describing mild local
effects resulting from
P. rhodorachis
bites (
Table 4.1
), and Malik (1995) reported
leukocytosis and elevated creatine phosphokinase (CK) among three patients bitten
by this species, although no specific systemic effects were documented.
Similarly, several cases of bites from
Hemorrhois nummifer
(coin snake; Plate
4.23D-F) and
H. ravergieri
(mountain racer or leopard snake) featured mild local
effects, although one case of
H. ravergieri
bite reported by Mamonov (1977) sug-
gested moderately severe edema (
Table 4.1
). This is similar to the pediatric case
reported involving
Boiruna maculata
(mussurana, Santos-Costa et al., 2000;
Table
4.1
) and may be a result of individual human inflammatory responses to minor
trauma.
As the previous genera were re-assigned from the genus
Coluber
, it is not surpris-
ing that some reports would involve members of this genus. This genus has been
extensively revised and is still under taxonomic review. A bite reported here from
C. rubriceps
(red-headed whipsnake) produced only mild, transient insignificant effects
(
Table 4.1
; Plate 4.15). Numerous bites inflicted by several taxa of
Coluber
spp.
[e.g.,
C. constrictor
(eastern racer, including several of the approximately 10 subspe-
cies),
C. mormon
(western racer),
C. elegantissimus
(elegant racer or most beautiful
6
As noted previously, the term “venomous” should not be used simply due to the presence of oral secre-
tions with laboratory-determined toxicity for experimental animals (typically, mice). “Venomous”
implies verified use in prey capture and/or subjugation functions. These functions have not been verified
in
Heterodon
spp., and these snakes commonly swallow their prey alive (SAW, personal observations).
Therefore, the term should be carefully applied as it confers specific biological (and, secondarily, clinical)
significance.
