|
44014
All snake venoms are composed of several different elements, and are not exclusively hemo-, neuro-, or cytotoxic. The three properties are represented in varying degrees in each species. Coral snake venom is predominantly neurotoxic, whereas the venom of most rattlesnakes is predominantly hemotoxic. A notable exception is the Mojave rattlesnake's venom. As you transverse the its range, the venom shifts from being primarily hemo-, to having significant neurotoxic properties.
The subject of "most dangerous" isn't exactly as cut & dry as we'd like it to be. We measure how venomous a snake is by how much venom it takes to kill 50% of a group of mice. The problem here is that there are four different methods of injection (subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, and intraperitoneal). Of these methods, subcutaneous is perhaps most applicable to human envenomations.
Based on subcutaneous LD50's, corals rank around third on the list of the most venomous US snakes. The number one spot would be held by the tiger rattlesnake, with number two being the Mojave.
Because of the coral snake's small size and relatively inoffensive nature (yes, I have actually handled them...more often by accident), almost 2/3 of coral snake bites are dry. Even in those bites that result in an envenomation, the mortality rate is much lower than one would think-0% with antivenom; 10% without.
The above information holds true for the two species of Micrurus found in the US. No antivenom exists for the Arizona coral (Micruroides). However, no one has ever died as a reult of envenomation by this species. It is also a very inoffensive snake, and its preferred method of defending itself is to evert its cloaca.
[addsig]
|
