Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Plate 4.19
Northern ringneck snake (
Diadophis punctatus edwardsii
).
A small, common semi-
fossorial dipsadid found from Canada to Mexico and provisionally assigned to the subfamily,
Heterodontinae, it feeds on small snakes, lizards, insects, and earthworms. Some observations
suggest that
D. punctatus
uses Duvernoy's secretions to immobilize ophidian prey. Therefore, its
Duvernoy's secretion may be best termed, “prey-specific venom”; its bite is medically insignificant.
Photo copyright to Gary Sargent.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Plate 4.20
(A-D and L-O) Boomslang (
Dispholidus typus
).
The most medically important
non-front-fanged colubroid,
D. typus
is a hazard level 1 colubrid species that has inflicted
