Calmest Garters

[drache]

I just found the reference to the toxin in Strumpfbandnattern. It says though that the Gland, which is behind the last tooth in the upper jaw, actually isn't connected to the tooth. So the toxin isn't injected, it kind of works more like a salivary gland.

[Stefan-A]

It's true, it's not injected, but like many other "nonvenomous" snakes, the garters do have enlarged teeth in the back of their jaw. It's a relatively ineffective method of delivering venom, especially when it's as weak as the garter snakes', but it's an old solution and does seem to be effective enough to help subdue struggling prey, even if it's not enough to kill it. It saves energy anyway.

I'd say it's a true venom in the sense that it is produced the same way as the venom of any other venomous snake and does actually contain at least some of the same ingredients (3FTx, which is a neurotoxin). I might be repeating a lot of the things people over at the venomdoc.com forums have said about "nonvenomous" snakes (colubrids) and their venoms, but they seemed quite convincing. I've also only been "investigating" the properties of the venom for less than a week.

[drache]

The book says that the secretion contains some antibacterial substances and they assume that it helps protect the snakes from disease borne by prey;
apparently there is a lot of variation as to the amount of neurotoxin it can contain

[mikm]

Very kind of you to research and share with us Rhea ...

much thanks
marian

[adamanteus]

Many nonvenomous snakes, which feed primarily on amphibians have enlarged rear teeth. Heterodon and Dinodon rufozonatum being obvious examples. Many believe this is for the purpose of "deflating" frogs and toads, which have a tendancy to fill themselves with air to make themselves more difficult to swallow. Or is it me that is full of air?!!

[drache]

I just got the book a few days ago and I'm so happy - I can't get over it.
i'd ordered it and some others from amazon.de in November and twice it didn't come.
I had to finally provide an address in Germany. Thankfully I never ask my brother for anything and so it wasn't much of an issue for him to be my relay.
What a cool book! Feel free to ask me to look up stuff in it any time - it'll be fun.
Rhea

[Stefan-A]

Many nonvenomous snakes, which feed primarily on amphibians have enlarged rear teeth. Heterodon and Dinodon rufozonatum being obvious examples. Many believe this is for the purpose of "deflating" frogs and toads, which have a tendancy to fill themselves with air to make themselves more difficult to swallow. Or is it me that is full of air?!!

Can't comment on that one either.

[Cazador]

Rhea,

I'm green with envy that you can read that book! This is a good opportunity to remind people that I'm gathering data to show the publishers of Strumpfbandnattern (Springer-Verlag) that there would be a market for an English translation of the book. Please have a look at this poll (http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/gene...ndnattern.html) and vote accordingly. Cheers,

Rick

[adamanteus]

Already voted in the poll. But I have a cunning plan....I'm going to get Rhea to gradually translate it from German one page at a time! Shhhh! She'll never know!

[drache]

I've done some translation before - it's usually done a page at a time.
If nobody else is working on a translation, I sure wouldn't mind doing it. No better way to really steep in the subject, eh?
Not much cunning needed for that one, James.