Rear-fanged snakes

[Hardwikk]

I've read many books and a few posts on this website that use the term "rear-fanged". What does that mean exactly? Is it something problematic (since Hoggies are "rear-fanged")?

[SerpentesCiconii]

Rear fanged snakes are opistoglyphic colubrids, which is defined by the mouth structure. The other 3 major structures are aglyphs(pythons, rat snakes, etc), proteroglyphs(cobras, taipans, etc), and solenoglyphs(Puff adder, cottonmouth, etc.),Some opistoglyphs can be very harmful to humans, like boomslangs and twig snakes, but most aren't. Hognose bites usually only have a mild reaction if the person gets any reaction at all, it just depends on how you react to the venom. Most are only strong enough to take down a small bird or toad or something. Hognoses use the fangs to help deflate toads when they are eating. It is not something to worry about in hognoses.

I think that explains it pretty well without going to deep into it.

John

[Krazy99CL]

interesting point...

Rear-fanged snakes are different from other venomous snakes. Rear-fanged has venom in the back of their mouth and when they bit they have to work their prey inside of their mouth before they can inject venom.

So if they bit out of defense, you wont get poisoned until they've worked their fangs in you.

*im sure thats how rear-fanged snakes work, but someone correct me if im wrong.

[jjspirko]

I would add a few more things...

1. Rear fanged snakes range from totally harmless to humans (say rufus beak snakes, diadem, etc), potentially having a local reaction for some people while causing no reaction in others (such as hognoses), causing serious effects but no reported deaths (like false water cobras, mangroves and Montpelier snakes) or potentially causing death (boomslangs, twigs snakes). The important thing to realize is rear fanged alone does not equal either safe or dangerous.

2. Rear fanged snakes do not "inject" venom the way vipers or Elapids do. The "fangs" of rear fanged snakes are just big teeth, some have groves and others don't but they are not hollow. They deliver venom by making a wound that venom flows into. The difference is pretty important. Because of this most rear fanged animals can safely be handled with garden gloves and long sleeves. Like mangroves, cat eyed snakes and false water cobras can all be handled with cloth gloves and sleeves. The cloth will absorb any of the venom before it gets into the wound.

3. Some rear fanged snakes have pretty potent venom, such as false water cobra venom is a true venom and is very similar to that of the western diamond back rattle snake. However, they do not have the ability or capacity to inject enough to cause death (at least to most people I suppose anaphylaxis is always possible but you can say the same about peanuts, lemons or penicillin). Just be aware that some rear fanged snakes advertised as "harmless" could cause a reaction in some or even most people. I have seen "sand snakes" advertised as "harmless" and I can tell you strait up I don't want to be bit by one. Most are pretty easy to handle and they are not generally biters but keepers would be best advised to use hooks, etc. or go the glove route.

Hope that is helpful,

[Hardwikk]

I would add a few more things...

1. Rear fanged snakes range from totally harmless to humans (say rufus beak snakes, diadem, etc), potentially having a local reaction for some people while causing no reaction in others (such as hognoses), causing serious effects but no reported deaths (like false water cobras, mangroves and Montpelier snakes) or potentially causing death (boomslangs, twigs snakes). The important thing to realize is rear fanged alone does not equal either safe or dangerous.

2. Rear fanged snakes do not "inject" venom the way vipers or Elapids do. The "fangs" of rear fanged snakes are just big teeth, some have groves and others don't but they are not hollow. They deliver venom by making a wound that venom flows into. The difference is pretty important. Because of this most rear fanged animals can safely be handled with garden gloves and long sleeves. Like mangroves, cat eyed snakes and false water cobras can all be handled with cloth gloves and sleeves. The cloth will absorb any of the venom before it gets into the wound.

3. Some rear fanged snakes have pretty potent venom, such as false water cobra venom is a true venom and is very similar to that of the western diamond back rattle snake. However, they do not have the ability or capacity to inject enough to cause death (at least to most people I suppose anaphylaxis is always possible but you can say the same about peanuts, lemons or penicillin). Just be aware that some rear fanged snakes advertised as "harmless" could cause a reaction in some or even most people. I have seen "sand snakes" advertised as "harmless" and I can tell you strait up I don't want to be bit by one. Most are pretty easy to handle and they are not generally biters but keepers would be best advised to use hooks, etc. or go the glove route.

Hope that is helpful,

So basically there's no problem about owning a Hognose, right?

[jjspirko]

No, no problem at all in my opinion. I have read a few accounts of reactions to bites but in all cases the snake was allowed to chew on the person for an extended time.

Additionally the bites were all SFEs (Stupid feeding errors) this means feed with tongs not from the hand. Good advice with any snake, I am sure my Madagascar cat eyed snake would have nailed me many times by now with out tongs.

Hognose snakes are very reluctant to bite even when adult and wild. I have actually pushed my finger into the mouths of wild hogs and had them squirm away or do the play dead thing.

Enjoy your new snake, don't worry or over think. I personally don't consider hogs venomous at all anyway despite a few reactions. Human saliva is pretty nasty in a wound, a human bite will swell, get red, etc but humans are not venomous right?

[Hardwikk]

No, no problem at all in my opinion. I have read a few accounts of reactions to bites but in all cases the snake was allowed to chew on the person for an extended time.

Additionally the bites were all SFEs (Stupid feeding errors) this means feed with tongs not from the hand. Good advice with any snake, I am sure my Madagascar cat eyed snake would have nailed me many times by now with out tongs.

Hognose snakes are very reluctant to bite even when adult and wild. I have actually pushed my finger into the mouths of wild hogs and had them squirm away or do the play dead thing.

Enjoy your new snake, don't worry or over think. I personally don't consider hogs venomous at all anyway despite a few reactions. Human saliva is pretty nasty in a wound, a human bite will swell, get red, etc but humans are not venomous right?

Yeah, when I saw a picture of a Hognose biting someone the guy said it was a food response, not ferocity. Thanks for the info, I'm very reassured that a Hognose really is a beginner's snake.