Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 3, 2011 20:02:36 GMT -5
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Post by tanyafrench on Aug 3, 2011 20:19:16 GMT -5
He sure looks like he would be a poisonous snake. Sure glad you know what your looking at, he is a beauty since he is in the photo. Would be scary if I walked up on him.
Tanya
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Post by Bikerrandy on Aug 3, 2011 21:13:44 GMT -5
We had those in Florida, they look poisonous because of the head. That's a pretty one, good size too! Yep, they're mean as hell ;D
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Post by drocknut on Aug 3, 2011 21:35:19 GMT -5
Sorry you stink Mel. Great pictures though.
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Aug 3, 2011 22:03:26 GMT -5
If I walked up on that watersnake I'd sh*t myself! Than nobody would know which of us stunk....! Tomorrow at the gym people will just think"Boy; Mel is really working out today!"
steve
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Post by mohs on Aug 3, 2011 22:24:40 GMT -5
do all poisonous snakes have fangs?
are there kinds that are poisonous with out them?
thanks!
Ed
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 3, 2011 22:36:50 GMT -5
Ed: Yep all poisonous snakes have fangs, though fangs vary in structural sophistication. Some fangs are hollow like hypodermics and are very efficient while others are grooved so the poison has to be chewed in and are not so efficient. (Gila Monster fangs work this way too) In addition, some fangs are fixed in front like cobras and coral snakes, some fixed in rear, like Lyre snake and fanged night snake and some fangs swing out to strike right flat into the target ( like rattlers, copperheads etc) The swing out fangs of vipers and pit vipers are the most efficient delivery systems but snakes in the cobra, coral etc group often have the most powerful toxins as most them are neurotoxins while most vipers have hemotoxins. The most deadly snakes of course combine a high venom load with a mixed venom that has both neuro and hemo effects...Mel
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Post by mohs on Aug 3, 2011 23:57:41 GMT -5
Thanks Mel!
I appreciate the quick response and your knowledge
I was wondering about Gila Monsters
So do they have like 2 fanged teeth?
Ed
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Post by Toad on Aug 4, 2011 0:01:31 GMT -5
Good looking snake
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Post by Woodyrock on Aug 4, 2011 1:12:20 GMT -5
Ed:
Both Gila Monsters, and the similar Sonoran Dragon have very small teeth, but lots of them closely set, Neither animal is aggressive. The main difference between the two is colour. The Gila Monster is orange, and black, whilst the Sonoran Dragon is yellow, and black. Both make good pets, but probably illegal today.
Woody
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Post by Toad on Aug 4, 2011 7:18:32 GMT -5
Would gila monsters be illegal anywhere, or just states where they are native?
Not that my wife would let me get one....
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holdemplyer
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 418
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Post by holdemplyer on Aug 4, 2011 8:13:14 GMT -5
Water snakes are some aggressive critters, but very cool. Around Nebraska we get the Northern Watersnake, not near as big as what you've photographed there.
Don't forget spitting cobras! There's something I don't believe I'd tangle with willingly, or the Inland Tiapan. I've caught rattlers before. I love snakes!
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 4, 2011 8:23:40 GMT -5
Ed: Unlike poisonous snakes which have the fangs in the top jaw, the Gila Monster and Mexican Beaded lizards have multiple oversized grooved teeth in the lower jaw. They simply, bite, hang on hard, and chew the venom into the wound. It flows slowly along the grooves in the teeth and not a whole huge amount of venom is delivered as it must move through capillary action rather than being injected like with a viper. Don't know about the Mexican Beaded Lizard but the Gilas are now fairly scarce due to habitat destruction and I believe they are fully protected in every state they occur in. I think they are the first venomous reptile to receive protected status in America. Beautiful and non aggressive creatures so it's cool they are protected. My major professor in college had one as a pet in the lab but they make a boring pet as they don't do anything except look pretty, eat, and sleep and of course, are unsafe to handle.....Mel
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onewomanarmy
has rocks in the head
Carpe Silicis!
Member since January 2007
Posts: 645
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Post by onewomanarmy on Aug 4, 2011 9:29:01 GMT -5
Mel -
We found a snake skin right up by our back porch last week. The skin itself was just over 3ft long but the head end was all bunched up real tight where it had used a cable to shed. I'd guess it was close to 5ft long if you were able to stretch that part out. There aren't many poisonous snakes around here that get that long and there was no sign of rattle on the tail so figured it was non-poisonous. However, was curious if there was any way to confirm that it wasn't by looking at the skin. Got to poking around online and found that no venomous snakes in Ky have the double rowed scales on the (underside) tail. Very easy to identify this on a shed skin. Does this hold true with all venemous snakes?
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 4, 2011 9:52:01 GMT -5
Onewomanarmy: I'm really not sure on that one. It may be true only with the pit vipers and I'm not sure if you guys have eastern coral snakes or not. Most coral snakes are small with fairly small scales though....Mel
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