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Free database shows where to find some of the world's most toxic snakes
Science Daily ^ | 3/18/2016 | Case Western Reserve University

Posted on 03/19/2016 8:06:24 PM PDT by JimSEA

Snakes known to produce some of the most toxic venoms swim the shallows of the western Pacific and eastern Indian oceans and sun themselves on island coasts from southwestern Japan to Indonesia, the Andaman Islands to Fiji.

But to find banded sea kraits, ask a guy in Cleveland. Or at least look up his work.

Iulian Gherghel, who is earning a PhD in biology at Case Western Reserve University, teamed with researchers in Oklahoma and Europe to create a database of the snakes' distribution. They published a description of their work and analyses in the current issue of the journal ZooKeys.

The database is designed to help conservation efforts and guide medical researchers who want to study the venom of sea kraits, environmental researchers who want to study their ecology and tourists who want to see the animals, the authors said.

"These snakes harbor potential for research in biomedicine," Gherghel said. "The venom has proteins that may be useful in the future development of drugs for treating cancer, neurological disorders and heart disease."


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Pets/Animals; Science
KEYWORDS: bandedseakrait; poison; seasnakes; snakes; toxic; venom
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Looks very peaceful doesn't he??

1 posted on 03/19/2016 8:06:24 PM PDT by JimSEA
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To: JimSEA

Other than the Dem National Committee, you mean?


2 posted on 03/19/2016 8:09:06 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: JimSEA

Australia, Australia, and Australia.


3 posted on 03/19/2016 8:10:27 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder (I apologize for not apologizing.)
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To: JimSEA

The funny thing is, sea snakes are relatively nonaggressive. They’ll swim away if not bothered. Can’t say the same for a black mamba.


4 posted on 03/19/2016 8:11:30 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder

That was my first thought. The whole continent sounds like a giant Jurassic Park.


5 posted on 03/19/2016 8:12:56 PM PDT by BobL (Who cares? He's going to build a wall and stop this invasion.)
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To: Olog-hai

Don’t mess with them is usually a good idea for venomous critters.


6 posted on 03/19/2016 8:13:39 PM PDT by JimSEA
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To: Olog-hai

“The funny thing is, sea snakes are relatively nonaggressive. They’ll swim away if not bothered. Can’t say the same for a black mamba.”

That some kinda raciss remark?


7 posted on 03/19/2016 8:14:19 PM PDT by jessduntno ("Where the Hell do you put the bayonet?" - Gen. "Chesty" Puller, at a flamethrower demonstration.)
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To: JimSEA

BTW, way back in chemistry class, they taught that a “toxin” didn’t kill you right away whereas a “poison” caused death within a very short period of time. Sea snakes, by that measure, are poisonous.


8 posted on 03/19/2016 8:14:48 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: All

I’ve got snakes. Lots of snakes. All different kinds of snakes. Even hybrid snakes because they interbreed between species. The biggest and meanest one is my rattle headed copper moccasin. He’s bad to the bone.


9 posted on 03/19/2016 8:16:32 PM PDT by BipolarBob
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To: jessduntno
Gotta blame the person who named the black mamba. Only the inside of the mouth is black; the snake’s scales are grey/brown.


10 posted on 03/19/2016 8:17:07 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: BobL

Gotta go there someday. But as far as dangerous animals, there are so many that can sting, bite, and rip your face off it’s amazing.

Now if there’s a venomous sea snake that lives in Australia....OMG!


11 posted on 03/19/2016 8:17:36 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder (I apologize for not apologizing.)
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To: JimSEA

Taiwan is Grand Cenytral Station for poisonous snakes. Japan was breeding them there until they were kicked out in WWII.


12 posted on 03/19/2016 8:19:00 PM PDT by jobim
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To: JimSEA

Rattlesnakes - Nature’s Welcome Wagon


13 posted on 03/19/2016 8:19:35 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Salamander

Psssst! Over here...


14 posted on 03/19/2016 8:21:05 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: JimSEA

15 posted on 03/19/2016 8:21:29 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder
Not only that, two species thought to be extinct were discovered to be very much alive last year.
16 posted on 03/19/2016 8:21:31 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: JimSEA

I have seen two when diving. That is enough, but ... I still dive in those same waters.


17 posted on 03/19/2016 8:21:32 PM PDT by Jemian
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To: JimSEA

When I read this headline, I immediately thought Washington D.C.


18 posted on 03/19/2016 8:23:41 PM PDT by Read Write Repeat
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To: blueunicorn6

Born and raised I Arizona, I get where you’re coming from.


19 posted on 03/19/2016 8:26:08 PM PDT by JimSEA
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To: Olog-hai

Nasty, nasty critter.


20 posted on 03/19/2016 8:27:56 PM PDT by JimSEA
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