Sorry about this, but I couldn't let this one pass by.
What state do you live in? It seems like you really don't know
much about Rattlesnakes. Darn near every statement you made is false:
Jack Staik wrote:
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"This," Ranma said calmly, "is the North American
Diamondback Rattlesnake. He's only medium size, about three
meters. Notice the rattles - that's how he warns you away."
1. There's no such thing as a "North American" Diamondback. There
are Western Diamondbacks, Eastern Diamondbacks, etc. There are a
number of different types, and they're mainly named for the regions
they inhabit. There aren't any named after the continent.
2. Although it may attain a body length of over eight feet in a
very good hunting area, it is rare to find a rattler over seven feet
long, and most of the ones in the desert don't get much over 4 feet.
Nine feet as a "medium size" for a Rattler is preposterous. You must
be thinking of the King Cobra, which does get very long.
3. The trademark rattle on the end of their tail serves as a
warning signal when they feel threatened. Rattlesnakes do not rattle
their tail when hunting, and they do not always rattle their tail when
taken by surprise, so you can't depend on the rattle to alert you that
a snake is nearby. Often a rattlesnake will not rattle at first,
preferring to hide and hope the intruder goes away. This is often the
case when a human encounters a Diamondback in a bush or hidden in a
crevice or near the base of a rock.
He held the snake closer to Akane's bugged-out eyes. "Notice
the fangs? They're about three centimeters, hinged to fit in
the mouth. Notice how the fangs are hollow tubes? That's so
it can inject a deadly nerve toxin."
Most Rattlesnakes don't inject a venom that's mainly a
neurotoxin. You're thinking of cobras again, most likely.
Rattlesnakes primarily use hemotoxins:
Rattlesnake venom contains an enzyme that digests the walls of
blood vessels, leading to internal hemorrhaging, and a natural
anticoagulant that prevents blood clotting. It damages tissue and
effects the circulatory system by destroying blood cells, skin tissues
and causing internal hemorrhaging. Rattlesnake venom also contains
neurotoxic components which immobilize the nervous system affecting
the victim's breathing, sometimes stopping it, but most Rattlesnakes
have venom composed primarily of hemotoxic properties.
While the venom is not as toxic as that of other vipers, a bite
from this animal is dangerous because of the amount of venom it can
deliver. Add to that the average size of the fangs (9.5-13 mm in
length) and the potential for a serious injury should be apparent to
almost anyone. It is estimated that 53% of the venom enzymes attack
tissue in the circulatory system, while 30% of the enzymes are
pre-digestive in nature. The remaining 17% is neurotoxic in
behavior. Tissue damage from the bite of a Diamondback occurs
rapidly, often evident within 10 minutes of the bite.
Ranma put the snake on the floor. "Now remember, the
rattlesnake is a very aggressive and excitable creature."
Diamondback rattlesnakes are not aggressive unless they are
provoked. Most bites occur either through accident (people not
watching where they are going and accidentally startling or stepping
on a Diamondback) or through direct provocation (trying to pick up,
capture, kill, or otherwise molest a Diamondback). When disturbed,
the snake often stands its ground, raising its head well above its
coils and sounding a buzzing warning.
These animals are very shy and will usually ignore or steer clear
of anything that is too large to eat, and they will go out of their
way to avoid people or warn them off.
"Um, Ranma?" Akane asked nervously. "When you said they were
poisonous, you meant that the bite made you sick, right?"
"Nope. Fatal. Horribly so," Ranma commented. "Luckily, when I was
bitten, I got to a hospital in time." Ranma paused for effect. "Of
course, that was in America. I don't think there's a drop of
rattlesnake antivenin in all of Japan."
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, about 8,000
people a year receive venomous bites in the United States, and only 9
to 15 victims die. More people die from wasp and bee stings than from
snake bites. In Wisconsin, reports of rattlesnake bites have been
documented and recorded since 1982. There are only anecdotal history
of snake bites prior to this date. Only one human death has ever been
recorded in the state of Wisconsin from a rattlesnake bite. From
1982-96, there have been a total of 4 Timber Rattlesnake bites in the
state. This equates to 1 bite every 3.5 years.
Hope this sets you straight!
Ja ne,
LarryF