SnakebitesPoisonous snakes are found throughout the world,with the exception of certain islands and the Antarctic.There are five venomous families of snakes.Viperidae–includes rattlesnakes, moccasins,South American lance-headed vipers andbushmaster, Asian pit vipers, African and Asianvipers and adders, the European adder, andsaw-scaled viper (Middle-eastern). Kills mainlyby coagulopathy (a blood clotting disorder) andshock.Elapidae–Includes cobras, kraits, mambas, andcoral snakes. Kills from neurotoxic venom thatcan cause respiratory failure, paralysis, andcardiac failure.Hydrophidae–Includes sea snakes andvenomous snakes from the islands of thesouthern Pacific Ocean, including Australia,New Zealand, and New Guinea. Also kills fromneurotoxic venom.Colubridae–Includes most of the commonnonvenomous species, as well as the boomslang,and vine/twig/bird snake (Africa); Japaneseyamakagashi; Southeast Asian red-neckedcallback. Venom’s method of toxic action variesaccording to type of snake.Atractaspididae–Includes the burrowingasps/mole vipers, stiletto snakes, and adders.Venom’s method of toxic action variesaccording to type of snake.Within the United States, poisonous snakes areCrotalids (rattlesnakes, copperheads, and moccasins)and the Elapids (coral snakes).CROTALIDS.—Crotalids are of the Viperidae(viper) family and are called “pit vipers” because of thesmall, deep pits between the nostrils and the eyes (fig.5-3). They have two long, hollow fangs. These fangs arenormally folded against the roof of the mouth, but theycan be extended when the snake strikes. Otheridentifying features of the Crotalids include thick bodies;slit-like pupils of the eyes; and flat, triangular heads. Themost identifying feature of a pit viper is the relative widthof the snake’s head compared to the thickness of the body.The head will be much wider than the body, giving theappearance of an arrowhead. The difference in size is soobvious that identification of a snake as a pit viper canusually be made from a safe distance.Further identification can be made by examiningthe wound for signs of fang entry in the bite pattern. Pitviper bites leave two puncture marks (sometimes onlyone, and sometimes more). Nonvenomous snakes (forexample, garter snakes) leave a series, often in a curveor semi-circle, of tiny scratches or punctures.Individual identifying characteristics include rattleson the tails of most rattlesnakes, and the cotton-whiteinterior of the mouths of moccasins.ELAPIDS.—Coral snakes are of the familyElipidae and related to the cobra, kraits, and mambasnakes in other parts of the world (fig. 5-4). Corals,which are found in the Southeastern United States, arecomparatively thin snakes with small bands of red,black, and yellow (or almost white). Some5-11NOSTRILPITVERTICALPUPILVENOMSACRATTLESNAKECOPPERHEADMOCCASINBITE PATTERNHM3f0503FANGFigure 5-3.—American pit vipers.
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