What I wrote on Facebook the night after the bloodletting:
"I had no idea that Boiga drapezii, like pythons, have four rows of teeth in the upper jaw. But the four rows of nasty lacerations this wrathful little bastard kept imprinting on my hands proved it, so I checked the snake's dentures. I'm usually not big on manhandling animals in this fashion, but I really needed to see what had created all that carnage. Wah! Tiny, those teeth are, and as transparent as crystal, making them almost invisible to the naked eye - but DAMN! they do a thorough job!!"
I have since been informed by smarter people than me that almost all snakes have vomerine teeth. Funny that this rather substantial bit of information has managed to escape me for my entire herping career (5 years so far)
Hans, with newly found respect for the "harmless" cat snake family
PS: Hey, it's the fiftieth issue already, and only after 14 months in-country!
Bonus seedpod! (Sterculia rubiginosa)
Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
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- Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
A rather devilish looking critter
Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
Awesome snapper!
Really? What happened Hans - did the herping gods let you down? I was expecting it to be over 100 by now !PS: Hey, it's the fiftieth issue already, and only after 14 months in-country!
- intermedius
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Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
Great little setup Hans ...no discernable envenomation?
This is my favorite...
This is my favorite...
Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
Awesome shots, as usual, Hans! One of my favorite Boiga!
Was there any swelling, itching, or other reactions common to some other Boiga sp.?
Was there any swelling, itching, or other reactions common to some other Boiga sp.?
Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
Don't get me wrong, I am a huge snake fan and find all snakes simply beautiful, but those rows of teeth kinda gross me out haha!
Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
What big eyes you have ! All the better to . .
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Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
What a remarkable-looking creature! Great images!
Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
WW once told me that if some of the Boiga had a better delivery system for their venom that we would talk about them like King Cobras. Were you concerned about the bites? Cool shots I would love seeing these.
- Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
Thanks very much for the condolences, y'all!
Seriously.
No effects from the four or five bites at all. But the key is to tear the snake (THIS snake - I can't speak for the other Boigas!) from the wound as soon as it tags you; otherwise it will start chewing lustily on your flesh, working the venom into you.
So was I....I guess too much happened - no time to write it all down. Just take this weekend, another crazy romp warranting at least four journal pages. Keywords: rare viper; bright orange huntsmen; common rat snakes; tire change in the boonies; turquoise jumping spiders, two stitches on deep shin wound caused by crashing through a rotten boardwalk; cat gecko; four hours of sleep; Malaysian Jungle Nymph.DavidG wrote:Really? What happened Hans - did the herping gods let you down? I was expecting it to be over 100 by now !PS: Hey, it's the fiftieth issue already, and only after 14 months in-country!
Seriously.
I have no doubts about that. But: if we had some ham, we could make a ham and cheese sandwich, if we had some cheeseif some of the Boiga had a better delivery system for their venom that we would talk about them like King Cobras.
No effects from the four or five bites at all. But the key is to tear the snake (THIS snake - I can't speak for the other Boigas!) from the wound as soon as it tags you; otherwise it will start chewing lustily on your flesh, working the venom into you.
Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
Hans, that snake is clearly too cute to have caused the pictured bloody hand. Come on, what *really* happened?
John
John
- Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
Don't bait the comedian
Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
Can't WaitSo was I....I guess too much happened - no time to write it all down. Just take this weekend, another crazy romp warranting at least four journal pages. Keywords: rare viper; bright orange huntsmen; common rat snakes; tire change in the boonies; turquoise jumping spiders, two stitches on deep shin wound caused by crashing through a rotten boardwalk; cat gecko; four hours of sleep; Malaysian Jungle Nymph.
Seriously.
Take care of the leg Hans! Rainforest boardwalks are a real hazard - speaking from personal experience - if they aren't taken care of properly! If you don't crash through one, you gotta be lucky not to slip on one and faceplant!
- Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
Thanks, David!
Been there, did that, last December. Twisted my knee something fierce. The worst thing is that both accidents happened in places safe enough for wheelchairs. If it had happened in the ulu (Bornean outback), three days by longboat/ten days on foot to the next doctor, at least I would have something to brag aboutDavidG wrote:If you don't crash through one, you gotta be lucky not to slip on one and faceplant!
Re: Borneo Dispatches #50: Boiga-Bitten
Good grief that is a long and lanky snake!