ISSN-1059-6518

THE WORLD OF VENOMOUS SNAKES

By Frank Hubbell, D.O.

SNAKE BITE STATISTICS:

It is impossible to accurately count the number of venomous snakebites worldwide, simply because most occur in rural and remote areas where access to medical care is limited, statistics are not kept, and snakebites are not reported.

Worldwide:

There are reportedly 421,000 envenomations per year with 20,000 deaths.

But, snakebites and deaths from snakebites are grossly underreported.

It is estimated that the real numbers could be as high as 1,841,000 envenomations with 94,000 deaths per year.

United States:

Approximately 8000 venomous snakebites are reported each year with 5 – 10 deaths per year.

SNAKES ARE:

– elongated

– legless/limbless

– carnivorous reptiles

– lack eyelids

– lack external ears

– ectothermic (cold-blooded)

– most are amniote vertebrates (lay eggs that contain amniotic fluid, suitable for the terrestrial environment), some snakes do have live births

– covered in overlapping scales

– most kill by swallowing their prey whole or death by constriction

– of the 3,400 species, 300 are venomous and use their venom to kill, subdue, and digest their prey

Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum – Chordata

Class – Reptilia

Order – Squamata

Suborder – Serpentes

Family – 20 different families

4 families are venomous

Genera – 500 different Genera

Species – 3,400 different species

3,100 are nonvenomous

300 are venomous

Interestingly enough, venomous snakes can be divided into different families based on their dentition and types of fangs, not as you might suspect, by the type of venom they possess. The rest of snakes are fangless, aglyphous.

One of the most inviting, relaxing, and beautiful places on earth is the ocean. The soft, warm, luxurious sand, the gentle, soothing waves, and the spectacular bluegreen waters that reflect the colors of the sky, draw us near. As we relax in the warm, tropical water, we can’t help but wonder why anyone would have ever wanted to crawl out of the sea, so that they could walk on the hard earth, propelled by two small feet.

When adventure brings us to the ocean, there are several inherent risks of which we have to be aware and prepared to manage. These concerns include: marine animal bites and stings, environmental related problems, accidental poisoning by eating poisonous fish, and for the SCUBA enthusiast – barotrauma…

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