Specifically, when a rattlesnake bites its prey, does it use up all its venom in one go? Or does it use up only some of its venom? If it was to bite again after feeding, would the second bite be less harmful?
(Serious answers only please. I need a factual answer for a novel I'm working on).
2007-03-26 12:48:53 · 12 answers · asked by pferde 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Edited to add: I'm not intending to go near one, seriously. They don't even live here. It's just for a story I'm trying to write.
2007-03-26 13:18:37 · update #1
any snake that bites to kill its prey will only use enough venom for that purpose. ie. a few milligrams is enough to kill a mouse and they may have over a 450 milligrams stored in its venom glands and 100mg is enough to kill an adult human.
a second bite would be just as lethal to prey as the first. every drop of venom is extremely potent. so it could in theory bite three human adults and kill them all. the venom works by relesing enzymes into the blood that stop the heart from working.
hope this helps. good luck with the book.
2007-03-28 00:52:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rattlesnakes can regulate how much venom they inject with each bite. They usually deliver a full dose of venom into potential prey animals, but tend to inject less or even none at all when acting in self-defense.
There are exceptions to this rule. A panicked or injured snake may not be able to control how much venom it uses. Young snakes may not yet have learned how to control the amount of venom administered with each bite.
2007-03-26 22:23:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rattlesnakes voluntarily control the amount of venom they inject. Often they don't inject any. They can inject from one fang and not the other. They can inject all their venom, part of it, or none.
A baby rattlesnake has not learned to control its venom injection yet, so it usually injects all its venom, or nearly all.
A rattlesnake's venom is necessary to digesting its prey. For this reason, it is a disadvantage to the rattler to inject all its venom in a defensive bite. It takes a while to make more.
Humans are not prey to rattlesnakes; rattlers only bite humans if they are hurt or frightened, and they can't escape, or think they can't escape. It is purely defensive. (This is why it was an early symbol of the United States: if you don't bother us, we won't bother you, but if you hurt us, watch out.)
The rattler only wants to make sure you go away.
There is a great book, I think it is called "Rattlesnakes" by Dobie, with a lot of info and experiences with rattlesnakes. I got it at the library.
2007-03-27 01:01:38 · answer #3 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rattlesnakes can bite and inject venom several times at full strength, then, as the number of bites increase the amount of venom injected begins to taper off. The total quantity of venom will depend on the length of the snake.
2007-03-26 19:56:58 · answer #4 · answered by NJGuy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't use it all up, though they inject less and less with each subsequent bite. I suppose if they bit you 20 times they'd eventually run out of juice, but it wouldn't matter because you'd be toast by the 5th or so.
That first hit is a doozy and it HURTS like you wouldn't believe if it's a big one. I got hit by one 5 years ago in the shin, and his fangs literally got stuck in my shin bone. Made the venom keep pumping in, it was really ugly and the mad dash to the ER followed by a lenghty recovery was most unpleasant.
Some people don't realize it but a baby rattler packs more venom in his bite than a big 6 footer. The 6 footer though (what hit me) is like having a hammer with two needles on it hitting you. Pain starts shooting up from where the bite was almost immediately.
2007-03-26 19:54:34 · answer #5 · answered by Jadalina 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
rattlesnakes?? yea they are reptiles....their rattles grow and they can get long but when u take its rattle be sure to look at how wide the rattle is...that tells u its size...the length of the rattle can be misleading....by the way they can bite too...but usually in self defense.....theyare not attack animals per se...
2007-03-26 19:53:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They Bite, They are Poisonous, and their tail rattles. What more is there to know apart from STAY AWAY from them.
2007-03-26 20:03:04 · answer #7 · answered by pedro_peewee 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they are really poisness and dont get near them when there tail is radling.
2007-03-26 19:57:32 · answer #8 · answered by Maddie 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes
2007-03-26 19:51:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
i almost got bit by one
2007-03-26 20:18:53 · answer #10 · answered by 22 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋