School Learning Time - topic - Animals

[LEGION]

Dizaster, you forgot the Eastern Brown{pseudonaja textillis} from Australia. It kills more people every year in your country than any snake; also the 2nd most venomous snake in the world. I believe 5 people in 2007 alone died. I think 4 already this year have died. Also the fairly recently labeled western brown{pseudonaja nuchalis} is bad news.

Also the King Brown/Mulga snake{pseudochis australis}. Highly toxic animals that have a nasty, mostly hemotoxic and myotoxic venom.
I'd love to get my hands on all of the aussie elapids, but Oz doesn't export its wildlife and the only one I can get my hands on easily in the states is the death adder.


Go to venomdoc.com and look for the subcutaneous ld 50 list if you want the list of most toxic.

[LEGION]

My main interest is the Aussie elapids but they have already been covered; plus I love the cobras. But I have a deep passion for the elapids known as kraits, bungarus to be specific.

Some of the most powerful neurotoxins on the planet come from this family. I imagine the cure for Parkinson's and other diseases of the nervous/musculatory system will probably come from one of the many of krait species. My favorite is bungarus fasciatus, banded krait from southeast asia. Also the red headed krait, bungarus flaviceps, is a stunningly beautiful animal and very potent.


Kraits


bungarus fasciatus






bungarus flaviceps

[LEGION]

Also another Taipan for you Dizaster, this one the Papauan New Guinea Taipan, oxyuranus scutellatis canni. Kills alot of people every year there; and would kill more if it weren't for the single handed efforts of David Williams who has done more to help set up proper hospitals with antivenin than anyone else. He almost died late last year for his efforts as he spent time in hospital after being bitten by one.

One of the world's deadliest and a distinct cousin to mainland Oz's coastal taipan. There are quite a few for sale here in the states, but I don't have the balls yet to mess with them; nor access to anti-venin. No anti-venin and you will die, from either your nervous system shutting down and paralyzing your muscles, which results in heart failure or lungs ceasing to function, or the hemotoxic effects and massive internal bleeding, whichever comes 1st. An absolutely drop dead{haha} gorgeous animal.

David Williams' Australian Herpetology ONLINE - Introduction

[LEGION]

Since you like Death Adders Dizaster, check this morph Deathie. Supposedly quite a few popping up in Australia. No scales!! Ugly imo, but a rather interesting occurence. Would love to know how this is happening and also see how the venom compares to that of a normal specimen.

http://www.reedysreptiles.com/fullsi...less%20800.jpg