2007-06-08 09:32:56 · 11 answers · asked by Snagglepuss 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Believe it or not, some snakes AREN'T immune to their own venom!
Most snakes naturally do have an immunity, however. Many are even immune to the toxins of other snakes. Even some completely nonvenomous snakes and other animals (and some individual humans) have some immunity. There's a bunch of ways this happens: exposure and developed resistance, naturally sensitive immune system, or sometimes a system that is completely insensitive so the toxin has no effect.
Even those guys who aren't immune to their own poisons aren't usually in a lot of danger. Snake venom isn't really a 'poison' per se... it usually has to be injected to work. Even you and I could probably DRINK a lot of snake venoms with no ill effects (don't try this at home, though). Snake mouths are also usually designed in such a way that it is actually really hard for them to bite themselves AND release venom at the same time. Plus consider that most of the time when you bite your tongue you don't actually draw blood... it just hurts a lot.
Instead, accidents tend to occur only when they are in a particularly ardent fight, or when they are bitten by another member of the same species. Many of the non-auto-immune snakes seem to be North American. I've heard the Copperhead snake cited as one.
2007-06-08 13:13:50 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Put together the first two comments here, and you've got your answer. Snakes CAN bite their own tongues, though, but they are immune to their own poison, control injection, and are unlikely due to the position of their teeth anyway.
2007-06-08 09:41:12 · answer #2 · answered by Mr. Taco 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Their narrow tongues (which are used to 'smell the air') are designed to slip in and out of their mouths without getting bitten. The fangs are sheathed when their mouths are closed and lie far apart enough so that this won't happen.
2007-06-08 09:44:13 · answer #3 · answered by Snake Eyes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cos the venom comes from a gland which is only activated if they do a secondary 'compression' bite. (The one after the first one) and by then they realise it's not prey they're biting and don't release venom.
2007-06-08 21:28:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Snakes never bite their tongues and they are immune to their own venom
2007-06-08 09:39:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
in maximum situations ” Immunity of snakes to their own venom is referred to as known” yet there are exceptions. with regard on your 2d assertion posing as a question: Please! For the sake of the chocolate cupcake do the cupcake a prefer and positioned a prophylactic over your snake…that cupcake is crammed with air and hasn’t a clue the place your snake has been.
2016-10-09 12:23:20 · answer #6 · answered by busick 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they cant bite their own tounges, they have fangs that go on either side of their tounge. also, they control when the venum ejects, so they wouldnt poison themselves
2007-06-08 09:37:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Immunity to their own venom!
2007-06-08 18:44:10 · answer #8 · answered by xenonvalkyrie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
they would only inject there own venum into their own mouths if they wanted to commit suicide lol.they cant obviously do that there venum is only used to kill prey.
2007-06-09 05:48:13 · answer #9 · answered by fiatbravogirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They've got more sense
2007-06-08 10:39:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋