Hoggies are gettin big!

[gonesnakee]

In reguards to the Venom thing, there is some disturbing new research out there that proves almost all Colubrids have mild forms of Venom. Dr. Bryan Fry (? I think thats right) of Austraila is doing the research & there are threads about it on these forums.
Mark
P.S. Venom is basically saliva, is it not.

[sapphire_moon]

I would think that saliva is spit basicly, coming from the snakes mouth/throat, and venom comes from glands up in it's mouth or something like that, and being injected into (through the fangs) of it's prey. or coming down grooves in the teeth?????

I don't know if it is saliva or not, just a thought.
Edit:

Just had to add.......

OH NO!!!!!! ATTACK OF THE KILLER CORN SNAKE!!!!!!!


lol

[snakey]

Hold on a minute... in my opinion, all snakes are venomous! And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Venom is saliva. Saliva is venom. Some "saliva" is more toxic than others. Even the saliva of the common garter snake can at least partialy imobilize it's prey. All "saliva" is designed to do two things,... imobilize, and begin beaking down tissue to start the digestive process. The saliva of each species differs in degree of these two powers. As for the hog nose forum, sounds good. They are a fascinating animal to say the least!

[sapphire_moon]

Venom comes from glands, not saliva. It aids in catching prey, (some snakes just bite, "inject" venom and release, only to follow the prey to eat it after it has died or slowed down enough for the snake to catch it) The venom starts breaking down the tissue, aiding in digestion. And as the rodent (bird, frog whatever) starts to die, it slows down, or "immobolizes" it.

Even a Human Beings saliva starts breaking food down as soon as you eat it. Ever spit on your car and let it dry, THEN try to take it off. Not very pretty, your spit actually eats the paint!

[snakehunter]

Some snakes DO have certain agents in the saliva, such as an anticoagulant, meaning the saliva prevents blood from cloting, and they prey doesnt bleed to death, but they do get woozy or something like that, i cant remember.

[rwg]

Saliva doesn't just come from your mouth...it also comes from glands, and is delivered by ducts to your mouth. I've heard venom described as "modified saliva". I dont know what defines venom, but it probably has to do with toxic agents.