Although snake venoms are composed of a complex collection of toxins, enzymes, and non-toxic substances, they have historically been classified into three main types: cytotoxins, neurotoxins, and hemotoxins. Other types of snake toxins affect specific types of cells and include cardiotoxin, myotoxins, and nephrotoxins. Cytotoxins are poisonous substances that destroy body cells that eventually lead to the death of most or all of the cells in a tissue or organ, a condition known as necrosis. Some tissue may experience liquefactive necrosis in which the tissue is partially or completely liquefied. Cytotoxins help to partially digest the prey before it is even eaten. Most of the observable tissue damage caused by cytotoxins occurs at the site of the bite. Neurotoxins are chemical substances that are poisonous to the nervous system. Neurotoxins work by disrupting chemical signals (neurotransmitters) sent between neurons. They may reduce neurotransmitter production or block neurotransmitter reception sites. Causing muscle paralysis which may also result in respiratory difficulty and death. Snakes of the family Elapidae typically produce neurotoxic venom. These snakes have small, erect fangs and include cobras, mambas, sea snakes, death adders, and coral snakes. Hemotoxins are blood poisons that have cytotoxic effects and also disrupt normal blood coagulation processes. These substances work by causing red blood cells to burst open, by interfering with blood clotting factors, and by causing tissue death and organ damage. Destruction of red blood cells and the inability of blood to clot cause serious internal bleeding. The accumulation of dead red blood cells can also disrupt proper kidney function. While some hemotoxins inhibit blood clotting, others cause platelets and other blood cells to clump together. The resulting clots block blood circulation through blood vessels and can lead to heart failure. Snakes of the family Viperidae, including vipers and pit vipers, produce hemotoxins.
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Snake fangs are defined as specialized teeth used for venom deliverance in animals. In snakes, three types of fangs fit the three venomous groups currently classified. These groups are the Vipers, Elapids, and Colubrids and their fang's are classified as Solenoglyphous, Proteroglyphous, and Opisthoglyphous. Each of these groups are separated by the unique design and the method of how they inject venom into their prey. Venomous snakes actually have the ability to control their venom, meaning they can deliver what's called a "dry" bite if they want to. This is typical when they are striking out of defense instead of a predator drive to kill. This suggests venom was designed for feeding and not defense. As snakelets, they may have less precision in venom control because they could still be "learning" their own mechanisms. Venom is essentially a complex and unique mixture of saliva, which comes from special glands in the head. Venom flows through fangs to immobilize and consume prey. Snakes have six rows of teeth. With two rows at the bottom and four rows on the top. The latter species hunt by constricting their prey to suffocation. Fangs are sharp-edged, extended, hollow and grooved teeth present on the upper jaw at the front or back of the mouth of a snake. Most fangs are hollow and act as a means of transporting the venom from gland to target. In the head and behind the eyes of poisonous snakes are venom glands that secrete the venom. A primary duct extends from the venom gland nearly to the upper jaw. It then branches to form two secondary channels that connect to each fang. Typically, snakes use venom for hunting their prey. In case of a bite for defense, they use less venom than they would do when hunting. These specialized teeth can break or but they do grow back. Like humans who continually produce different things, snakes do the same. The following are different categories of fangs in venomous snakes and a brief overview of each. They are rear-fanged or grooved; found in mostly mildly venomous snakes with fangs in the upper rear portion of their mouth. This structure of teeth is present in the Colubridae family of snakes. There are over 2000 members of this family, commonly the Boomslang, Brown Snake, Common Kingsnake, Garter Snakes & Tiger snakes. The fangs are not hollow like in other categories; instead, they are grooved & partially curved. To facilitate the biting, the snake must chew their prey first, then bring it to the fang at the back of the mouth for venom to be administered. However, fangs in Colubridae members may vary in the number, shape, and size within and among species. The gland can only deliver the venom at a lower pressure, less than 5 psi, because they lack the muscles responsible for generating strength to expel the poison. It is also interesting to know that these types of snakes will only produce venom during chewing. The glands do not have a place to store the venom, so it is produced when needed. This particular type of fang is exclusively found in the viper and rattlesnake family of snakes. The fangs are long and are entirely hollow. Usually, in the upper jaw. Identical in function to a basic hypodermic needle. They hole at the base functions to receive venom from the processing gland through the ducts, another hole near the tip is used to subsequently administer the toxin. A suborder of snakes including those that have permanently erect grooved fangs, with ordinary teeth behind them in the jaws. It includes the cobras, the asps, and the sea snakes. These fangs are straight or partially curved, have a hollow core, and a tiny opening almost at the tip. The teeth are approximately three times smaller than the Solenoglyphous fangs. These fangs attach to the front of the mouth. These specialized teeth are immobile and allow the snakes to hold on to the prey after striking until the venom paralyses the prey. Some of these species possess at least two functional fangs on the same location on the jaw line. The death adders, mambas, and some other dangerous species, on the other hand, have a slightly mobile fang. Spitting cobras have a reformed hole to increase the speed of venom injection. Interesting Random Facts: The Longest Fangs - The record belongs to the highly venomous Gaboon Viper. Found primarily in sub-Saharan & Tropical parts of Africa. In a 6 ft (1.83m) snake, the fangs can measure to 2 inches (50mm/5cm). Not only does the viper have the largest fangs of any snake today, it also produces more venom than any other snake. A single adult male Gaboon viper can produce enough venom to kill 30 adult male humans. Hollow Fangs - The vast majority of snake fangs are hollow. Venomous strikes are reserved for when attacking prey, because that’s when it’s really important for the bite to be fatal however, some snakes’ fangs are not hollow. They’re not tubes at all. Rather, if you chopped it width-ways and looked at the cross section, you would see a C shape, like an unfinished circle. These fangs are called grooved fangs. Scientists are unsure of the cause of these ‘incomplete’ fangs. They are still fairly effective at injecting venom in prey, but not as effective. Difference Between Fangs & Teeth - When we talk about mammals, fangs are specialized teeth which have evolved to be extra good at biting and tearing flesh. Take a look at your pet cat, or dog, next time they yawn. Those are fangs and they perform a variety of functions, most of which have something to do with scaring, catching or retaining a grip on prey. Teeth do the munching, the chewing and the churning. There are lots of animals which have fangs, most of which are carnivores. (Fruit bats are one of the only herbivorous animals in possession of fangs). Technically, spiders and horseshoe crabs have fangs too and are similar to that of snake fangs. They are also hollow and receive their toxins by way of venom glands. The most important difference between fangs and teeth is the specialization. Fangs have developed specifically for the task of biting animal flesh, and snake fangs have evolved specifically for the task of injecting venom. Teeth can be found lining the mouths of non-venomous snakes, but also in the mouths of some venomous snakes, in small rows running along the sides. Constrictors like Anaconda's and Python's have larger, stronger teeth than venomous snakes, because they need to use them a lot more and do not have the advantage of venom make up for it in the numbers of teeth and the shear size and power of the snake's body. One thing unites all snakes, however: they all swallow their prey whole. This means they don’t use teeth for chewing, only for latching onto the animal so that it can’t escape. World's Most Venomous Snake - The title for worlds most venomous goes to the very shy & rare Inland Taipan. Australia’s inland taipan venom is so incredibly toxic, one pin drop is enough to kill 100 full grown adult humans. |
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