Watersnake saliva

[Herppro.com]

I have heard that watersnake saliva has a anticoagulant that stops the blood from clotting which causes (in some cases) extreme bleeding. I was curious if this is the same material used by some venomous snakes?

[littleindiangirl]

um... yea, some hot snakes venom is an anti coagulant. There have been medicines created using those venoms. But as for water snake saliva?... I dont know. Might actually be confusing that one with a venomous water snake. Like the coral. Course, i dont know much about venomous snakes either.

[littleindiangirl]

Ah, yes. the Northern water snake must be what your referring to. http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/d...?recnum=ar0108. I learn new stuff everyday. lol this pretty much sums it up tho:

edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_venom
The chemistry of snake venom

Snake venom is a mixture of toxins and different enzymes used for other purposes like increasing the prey's uptake of toxins.

* Phosphodiesterases are used to interfere with the prey's cardiac system, mainly to lower the blood pressure.
* Snake venom inhibits cholinesterase to make the prey lose control of its muscles.
* Hyaluronidase increases tissue permeability to increase the rate that other enzymes are absorbed into the prey's tissues.
* Amino acid oxidases and proteases are used for digestion. Amino acid oxidase also triggers some other enzymes and is responsible for the yellow color of the venom of some species.
* Snake venom often contains ATPases which are used for breaking down ATP to disrupt the prey's energy fuel use.

[Herppro.com]

Thanks i dont know why but that is very interesting to me. I catch them all the time.

[littleindiangirl]

Did you see the Dirty Jobs episode where he ran around and got bit about 5 times in 5 minutes by the northern water snake. I think it was anyways..LOL it was great!! Look it up, you'll love it.

[Mendel's Balls]

I have heard that watersnake saliva has a anticoagulant that stops the blood from clotting which causes (in some cases) extreme bleeding. I was curious if this is the same material used by some venomous snakes?

Psst.....what we call Snake venom is modified snake saliva.

[littleindiangirl]

Psst.....what we call Snake venom is modified snake saliva.

yea... but the intent wasnt about injectable venom. More of just "spit"

[Mendel's Balls]

Venom is chemical in nature....Gila monsters don't really inject venom with fangs, instead they chew their prey and the venom begins to work it way into the prey. Venom is poisonous spit.

[littleindiangirl]

True, but in the case of the northern water snake, it doesnt inject. And its still labeled as non poisonous. The hila has rear fangs that inject a neurotoxin. So it does have "venom" not just really nasty "spit"

[littleindiangirl]

dont wanna confuse it with rear fanged colubrids, the gila has grooved teeth in the bottom jaw... and to mix in the saliva while they chew.