| There are four basic dental structures within the | | | | decided to handle it himself. He grabbed the snake |
| world of snakes. The Aglyphous group simply means | | | | just a bit to far back of the head which allowed the |
| that this group of snakes possess no elongated | | | | snake room to turn and sink one of its rear fangs |
| teeth what so ever. This group encompasses snakes | | | | into his finger. |
| of the Boa and Python family as well as various | | | | He quickly released the snake and decided to work |
| others. Next is the Ophistoglyphous group. This is the | | | | with it some more on the following day. He left work |
| group from which this paper is written about. Though | | | | around 5PM and on his way home he stated that he |
| not technically a fang, the ophistoglyphous group do | | | | felt queasy. Later that night he vomited and had |
| possess elongated rear teeth. There is a groove | | | | difficulty sleeping. He called in sick on the morning of |
| running from top to bottom on the anterior aspect | | | | the 26Th. but stated he would be in on the following |
| of the tooth. This groove channels saliva from the | | | | day. He vomited one more time and as he brushed |
| gum line downward into the wound caused by the | | | | his teeth he noticed blood on the tooth brush. His |
| elongated teeth. Gravity is the only force working to | | | | wife was upset enough to summon a friend who |
| drive the saliva into the would as there is no gland or | | | | called for an ambulance to take him to the Municipal |
| holding apparatus surrounded by muscles to force | | | | Hospital for a check up. He was admitted and at 3PM |
| the saliva downward. | | | | he was pronounced dead. The snake was a |
| In order for a true envenomation to take place the | | | | Boomslang (Dispholidus Typus) also known as the |
| rear fanged snake must hold on to its prey item and | | | | African Tree Snake. It was sold in pet stores around |
| actively work its fangs into the wound. This gives | | | | the world because rear fanged snakes are harmless |
| the required time needed for the saliva to flow down | | | | to humans. With in three months all Rear fanged |
| the channeled fang and into the wound. A minimum | | | | snakes for sale in the pet trade were taken from |
| of ten to twenty seconds would be required for the | | | | the shelves. |
| saliva to make the trip from gum line to the wound. | | | | Today we have a fairly good handle of what species |
| The longer the snake remains attached to its | | | | of snakes are harmless and what ones are |
| subject, the more serious the envenomation will | | | | dangerous to humans. Snakes belonging to the Boiga |
| become. A great deal depends upon the toxicity of | | | | Genus, Dispholidus, Rhabdophis and Thelotornis |
| the saliva itself. | | | | Genera also have members within each family that |
| The next group would be the Proteroglyphous group | | | | possess venom potent enough to cause a fatal bite |
| There are some very popular members belonging to | | | | among humans. The common North American Garter |
| this group, members such as the Cobras, Kraits, | | | | Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) has rear fangs but its |
| Mambas, Taipans,Coral Snakes to name but a few. | | | | venom is not supplied in sufficient quantities to cause |
| These snakes all have short fixed fangs in the front | | | | harm to humans. The lovable Hog nose snake |
| of the upper jaw, just below each eye. It is believed | | | | (Heterodon platyrhinos) is a member of the rear |
| by most that these snakes possessed their fangs in | | | | fanged club and it is all but impossible to get one to |
| the rear of their mouths millions of years ago and | | | | bite a human. The large number of Rear Fanged |
| over time they migrated forward into the position | | | | snakes throughout the world are all members of the |
| they hold today. The fangs must be short, to avoid | | | | Colubridae family. |
| the piercing of the lower jaw. Even the fangs of the | | | | The largest family of them all, consisting of over |
| King Cobra, (Ophiophagus Hannah) has fangs less | | | | 2,500 separate Genera's. Though several of the rear |
| then 1/2 inch in length. This group belongs to a family | | | | fanged snakes are considered safe for personal |
| called Elapids, some of the most potent snakes on | | | | ownership, it is not considered wise to allow any |
| Earth today. The final group of snakes are also well | | | | snake to chew on any part of your anatomy, even if |
| known through out thew world. | | | | it appears cute, as it endeavors to scare or defeat a |
| They belong to the Solenoglyphous group, They | | | | large human. It could be doing far more then looking |
| have folding fangs which allows them to have | | | | funny or cute! Most venom's manufactured by the |
| extremely long fangs. The Gaboon Viper, (Bitis | | | | Duvernoy's glands of Rear Fanged Snakes acts very |
| gabonica) has fangs that measure two (2) inches in | | | | slowly on the human body. Effects of the venom |
| length. The fangs are in the front roughly under each | | | | might not appear for 12 to 24 hours after the bite. |
| eye and when not in use rest along the upper jaw. | | | | When the symptoms do appear, it could very well be |
| Muscles lower the fangs when needed and lock them | | | | to late. In all but a few instances, there is no anti |
| into place. The base of the fang lines up perfectly | | | | venom on the market available for treating a bite and |
| with the venom duct forming a tight seal. When | | | | bites are handled symptomatically. The best rule of |
| muscles contract, venom flows through the fang and | | | | thumb is to treat all Rear Fanged snakes as |
| is forced out the opening at the tip of the fang. | | | | venomous snakes. Technically that is exactly what |
| Snakes such as all pit vipers ie. rattlesnakes, | | | | they are. |
| cottonmouth's, copperheads are members of the | | | | As a general rule most people in the United States as |
| Solenoglyphous group as are the Vipers of the Old | | | | well as other developed nations take it for granted |
| World. The Death Adder of Australia is one of the | | | | that anything on the store shelf is safe when used |
| few Elapids to possess this type of fang structure. | | | | as directed. Most experts will tell you that snakes |
| The above are basic dental structures of known | | | | should not be handled to often but as with anything |
| snakes of the World. The pet trade has been a | | | | new, humans like to feel what they have purchased. |
| legitimate industry dating back Roman Empire. | | | | In the case of owning pet snakes, Most ophiofiles |
| Reptiles have been part of that trade since its | | | | can't wait to get their new acquisition home to hold |
| inception. In the 1950's rear fanged snakes were all | | | | and inspect it. In the case of handling any venomous |
| considered harmless to humans and were sold in all of | | | | species of snake, the urge should be tempered with |
| the modern industrial countries. It was in the late | | | | restraint. Any new snake requires time to become |
| 1950's when the Pet industry decided to rethink its | | | | accustomed to its new surroundings. A snake that |
| claim that "all rear fanged snakes are harmless". On | | | | would ordinarily not bite could very well strike at its |
| September 25Th.1957 Karl P. Schmidt was attempting | | | | new owner if handled to soon after its purchase. The |
| to Identify a snake that had been brought into the | | | | last thing anyone needs is to be known as the first |
| Museum of Natural History in Chicago Ill. where he | | | | fatality known as a result of receiving a bite from a |
| was employed as a Herpetologist. An assistant was | | | | seemingly harmless snake. Use Caution and live longer! |
| holding the green colored snake when Schmidt | | | | |