-----Coral Snake?-----

[DianeOr]

HI EVERYONE>>>>On the animal channel, these snake guys have showed all the dangerous snakes in the world. Ok, my question is: They never show the 'Coral" snake of USA & Mexico, are they extinct? My husband noticed that.... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] HAPPY EASTER! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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[cb76]

happy easter to you too [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

i just saw a lil' snippit on coral snakes. they are not extinct, just not on every snake show! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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[LdyDrgn]

I'm thinking that maybe they were showing the top most dangerous in the world. Whereas the Coral snake is a rather venomous snake in America, it's not in the top #'s of the world. I've seen so many of those shows, I'm not sure which one you are specifically speaking of....

The Coral snake is most definitely not extinct.
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[natas]

The coral snake is the "most" venomous or potentinally dangerous snake in America....but keep in mind that these guys aren't A) As common as rattle snakes and B) as aggresive. Not that a rattle snake is gunna come after you or anything, but its alot easier to get bit by a rattle snake than a coral snake. that maybe one of the reasons why.

The coral snake has the same type of venom as Cobra's so a bite from one of these guys is way more and likely to kill you then most rattle snakes...although I hear some rattle snakes (I think a particular type) is actually evolving to having 2 types of venom...one being neo-toxic.
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[LdyDrgn]

That's what I thought...but I wasn't quite sure (about them being the most venomous in the U.S.) As far as the venom being like a cobra, they are related to cobras.
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[Reticu-Lady]

Isn't it the Mojave Rattlesnake the one with the 'new and improved' venom? I thought I heard something to that affect (or maybe I was daydreaming again). [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
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[najaboy]

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.
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	neurotoxin Neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells – neurons – usually by interacting with membrane proteins and ion channels.

[JuliusSqueezer]

Most rattlesnake bites happen because of pure and simple harrasment or carelessly not watching where you step. They aren't likely to bite someone just for walking near them. You almost have to stomp on them to get them to bite. Most bites in the US are also alcohol related incidents...surprise surprise. "Hey Bubba hold my beer and watch this" .... (most common last words)....aside from venom yeild and toxicity...probably the most dangerous rattlesnake as far as aggressive behaviour and likely to lash out in anxiety is an eastern diamondback. Mojave rattlesnakes may have a more lethal dose....but you have to factor in what snakes are living in more populated areas. Timbers/canebrakes are very docile but blend in with the leaf litter here along the wooded eastern seaboard and are as common around human dwellings as they are in remote wooded areas...They get stepped on alot too. All rattlesnakes other than the pigmys carry a potential lethal dose but deaths are rare. an envenonmation from a crotalus bite however leaves an everlasting reminder...nasty scars from necrosis and/or loss of limb or nerve damage. I'm not exactly sure how anyone can get tagged by a coralsnake though...they all seem to be rather docile and can seemingly be free handled without incident unrestrained...I am assuming there is a "stupidity" factor as is the case with any other hot. Probably the biggest factor with coralsnakes is that they almost have to be hunted to be found. You don't just happen up on them like you do rattlesnakes...they prefer to spend most of their time in rotten logs or in deep compost leaf litter. Where rattlesnakes are often found out on the open ground where hikers or gardeners may step on them before they see or hear anything. Of all the pitvipers in the US, the copperhead is the most likely to bite you just for being within strike range. They blend in... they do not like to be stepped on and they are snippy AND they love to get in flowerbeds and wood piles. They are by far the most plentiful venomous snake in North America and by far inflict the most envenomating bites. Lucky for us their bite doesn't pack the punch that some of the rattlers or even their very close cousin the cottonmouth does....anyway....I think this has all gotten way off the subject ....No coralsnakes are not extinct....far from it but because of their secretive lifestyle, an accurate guess at a census count or even the full range of where all they dwell may never be known or fully recorded.
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	Cottonmouth Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) - Also known as a Water Moccasin.

[Jack_Daniels]

I saw jeff corwin do a spot of eastern corals about a month or so ago.. Cant think of anywhere else..
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[JC86]

There are coral snakes all over where I live in South Florida, had one under my house once. The only time they're really visibal is like when it really storms out, they'll come out of the barns and stuff. The only way I know of people getting bit, other than trying to pick one one up, is like if ur diggin around in ur compost heap or haystack and accidentially run into one.


Scott
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[BWSmith]

Relating to Najaboy's post. An interesting fact is that Canebrakes (C. horridus atricaudatus) and EDB's (C. adamanteus) both have increasingly high levels of neurotoxins. the Southern range of the Canebrake (Timber) and the Northern range of the EDB offer much highr concentrations of n-toxins. A friend of mine got bit by a 4 foot EDB two nights ago and nearly died. The odd thing is that there was very little necrosis (enough swelling that he needed a fasciotomy). This struck me as odd due to the usual tissue damage produced by this species. He is doing better and is expected to recover and probably keep his fingers. I was not aware the Mojave shared this geographic variation in its venom. Just thought it was interesting and worth noting.
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[JuliusSqueezer]

Hi Brian [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] call me next time ya need a herping buddy...I'm bored.
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[faze]

i have to say this...that this post deffinately caught my attention...
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[Thade]

Another reason for them not being seen alot is that not only are they secretive and docile but they are also tiny little buggerz. Most species of corals that I have seen/read about have a average adult size of 13 to 22 inches. That is just a little bigger than some newborn colubrids. Also as someone said they love to "chill out" in rotten logs and that type of thing. Something to think about when out in the woods and you decide to wrecklessly turn over a log to see what is under it. Might just get you killed ; )

On a similar note, even though they are docile and as Julius said, can be handled free hand by an EXPERIENCED person, don't go out and try screwwing with it. That would be the "stupidity factor" that was in the same line of Julius's post. If you are lucky enough to see one in the wild then view it from a distance but leave it alone. Don't try and pick it up with a stick or some other moronic show of idiocy. Julius said he didn't see how anyone could get tagged by one, well one way to do that is to be inexperienced and try to pick it up in the first place.
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[Barrin]

There are a lot of coral snakes in Iowa. When I was younger and worked at the science senter there in Iowa I used to get corals mixed up with Iowa's milk snake...But the corral snake has a brighter coloration.
In my opinion.
They would boath be nice snakes
to ad to my collection though... he he he [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
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[JuliusSqueezer]

DOH...thanx Thade...I almost had kogoz convinced to go catch me one.
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[BWSmith]

Just found a great spot right near the house. Who would've thought there could be such great herpin inside the Perimiter! Within 30 minutes and less than 50 yards, Hester and I found 3 snakes! The black Rat was easy to find, I just followed the screams [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] But there are definately coppers down there. I Will Not Rest Until I Find A Copperhead There!
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