Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
identification of the snake responsible for the reported injury. Although most recorded bites
were insignificant, there is at least one confirmed bite that resulted in cranial nerve (CN III,
IV, and VI) palsies (see Section 4.4).
(D and F) Montpellier snake (
Malpolon monspessulanus
).
Plate 2.4D, locality unknown;
Plate 2.4E and F, male specimen, Cartagena, Spain.
(G) Bite from
Malpolon monspessulanus
.
As reported in most verified cases, this species
most commonly causes only mild puncture wounds, lacerations, and brief bleeding. However,
these snakes must be considered dangerous as there is at least one confirmed systemic
envenoming that included cranial nerve palsy as noted above.
Plate 2.4E and F, photos copyright to Matt Wilson; Plate 2.4G, photo copyright to Zoltan
Takács; Plate 2.4D copyright to Julian White.
(A)
(B)
Plate 4.33
(A and B) Moila's snake or hooded malpolon [
Malpolon
(
Scutophis
)
moilensis
]
.
Although its congener,
M. monspessulanus
, has inflicted a verified neurotoxic envenomation,
the few reported bites (only one formally documented) from
M. moilensis
have been medically
inconsequential. When agitated, like
Heterodon
spp.,
W. merremi
, and
Hydrodynastes gigas
, this
snake will display by flattening its neck into a “hood” as shown in Plate 4.33B.
Photos copyright to Maik Dobiey.
(A)
(B)
Plate 4.34
(A-D) The vine snakes, genus
Oxybelis
.
The colubrine genus
Oxybelis
contains
approximately four species of slender, sharply snouted, arboreal snakes that occur from
northern Mexico (with some populations in the extreme southwestern USA) to South America.
There are a few anecdotal accounts of mild local effects from bites by members of this genus,
including
O. fulgidus
. A recent report has described the rapid immobilization of avian prey
when grasped by
O. fulgidus
, but lizards may be less rapidly affected. Such observations may
support use of the proposed term, “prey-specific venom” (see text).
