New born rattlers

[el lobo]

Those babies are awesome! I dig!

[adamanteus]

Mambas are Elapids (like Cobras) not vipers, and yes, they do lay eggs, but don't break any 'rules'..
Most, but not all vipers are live bearing.. for example Calloselasma rhodastoma is a Crotalid linked closely to the North American Agkistrodon group, but it is an egg layer.... I know this, because I've bred them.

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

For anyone interested in what a Northern Pacific Rattlesnake bite can do to you, please go to Crotalus for some basic information... Halfway down the page is a link to Justin's Rattlesnake Bite (go there directly if you wish). Be forewarned; it is not for the faint-hearted. After viewing the pictures I was nauseous.



juvenile Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus). We sat right next to this youngster without knowing it (at least for a while).

Please don't get bitten. Be safe!

Steven

[dashnu]

Wow! That looks pretty nasty! I saw a show on Animal Planet the other night were a guy got his stomach bit by a Cobra I think. Wasn't nearly as gross as those pics put it did put a 6 inch hole in his stomach.. Was pretty crazy.. Those little buggers are full of venom directly after birth correct?

Anywas nice pics, I still think the little guys are cute

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

The "baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous then the adults" myth often permeates through the realm of snakebite stories, however is somewhat of a fallacy. The only truth to it is that in many cases the babies do not know when to withhold venom in a defensive bite. Adult rattlers often often inflict dry bites, not because their venom sacs are necessarily empty, but because a defensive bite isn't really supposed to "digest" a potential enemy! Adults, it appears, can control it. Why waste your predigestive saliva!? (please note that recharging venom banks does not take that long however!) Adults also have the capability of injecting larger amounts of venom (bigger venom sacs!).

[ssssnakeluvr]

cool photos!!!!! wish I could have venomous again.....would have to move out of Utah!!!! babies venom is as strong as adult, but they can't give as big a dose as adults...they can, on occasion, deliver dry bites....I know this for a fact....I was tagged by a 3 month old eastern massasauga....my fault too. was young and not too swift... I have had a number of gt basin rattlers also.

[Loren]

The "baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous then the adults" myth often permeates through the realm of snakebite stories, however is somewhat of a fallacy. The only truth to it is that in many cases the babies do not know when to withhold venom in a defensive bite. Adult rattlers often often inflict dry bites, not because their venom sacs are necessarily empty, but because a defensive bite isn't really supposed to "digest" a potential enemy! Adults, it appears, can control it. Why waste your predigestive saliva!? (please note that recharging venom banks does not take that long however!) Adults also have the capability of injecting larger amounts of venom (bigger venom sacs!).

There are many different factors that affect the seriousness of a bite, to the point that a "less dangerous" snake could result in a far worse effect than a "very dangerous snake"... or the other way around.

The best quote I ever heard on tv sums it all up. "The most dangerous venomous snake is the one that bites you!"

[Stefan-A]

The "baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous then the adults" myth often permeates through the realm of snakebite stories, however is somewhat of a fallacy. The only truth to it is that in many cases the babies do not know when to withhold venom in a defensive bite.

I learned pretty recently, that that's also a fallacy. Apparently the babies know very well how to withhold venom (whether or not they do, is a different story) and the myth that the babies would be more dangerous, turns out to be true in some instances. Babies of at least some species of venomous snake can in fact have a more potent venom than the adults. What I knew from before, was that the venoms change in composition as the snake grows, but I didn't think that this myth, which had already been debunked once, would turn out to be true. But I don't know if it's true for rattlers.

James is going to declare this nonsense for sure.

[Stefan-A]

Congratulations on you new babies!

[Lumpy]

Just looking at those photos reinforces my desire to never get near rattlers. Pretty, yes...pretty dangerous too! I repespect those who own and handle them, but.....no thanks.

We have Mississauga rattlers in these parts. But they are very shy and I only know of one person ever coming across one. It was sitting in her driveway. She gave it a lot of room!

I'll stick to the harmless variety.

Lump