I want to have an expert knowledge of snakes !!!

:wink: Hi all,
Well, I must preface this with the admission that I realize I will never be a "true" expert herpetologist being as I am thirty seven and I guess it is kind of late to be going back to college to study this kind of thing but I have a sincere desire to have as much expertise in the field of snakes as I possibly can. I have found a pasttime that is much more than just a casual hobby to me with the study and husbandry of my snakes. I have always been fascinated with snakes but when I was a kid growing up my mother was too scared of them to permit me to have one...but finally after all this time I have indulged my desire to have small but beautiful collection of snakes. I think that snakes are one of the most truly beautiful and fascinating animal genera in the world. they are like living jewels in sort of way...one only has to watch them frozen in place, unblinking ....truly amazing animals. :shock: I think my personal favorites are the Eyelashviper ( Bothrops schegelli - amazing range of colors in this snake ) the King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah - I love the growl that comes out of this animal when it is angered..sheesh.. :shock: :twisted: and I love the Sawscale viper ( Echinus carinatus - small, mean and deadly... 8)

I think I have immersed myself in the world of the snake.....

Eyelashviper

8)

Eyelash vipers are also a fav of mine. They are so pretty! Really venomous though. *sigh* I guess its illegal to have hots in Utah anyway... :)

Russels Vipers are my favorite pit viper! They hardly ever bite without envenomating and the victim bleeds profusely from eyes, ears, mouth, nose, every other oraface and even old wounds start bleeding again :shock: What a way to go, sheez!

wow....I didnt know that about Russells Vipers...that does indeed sound like it would suck...bleeding out of every orifice...yuck...I think the vipers are a nastier way to go than the Elapids - I have read that some of the New World vipers like the Fer-de-lance cause enormous tissue damage at the bite site so that even if you survive, you will probably lose the limb - horrible necrosis and hemmoraging occur - some snakes are serious bad news !!!! :twisted:
EyeLashViper