A bite by the Twin-Barred Tree Snake,Chrysopelea pelias(Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

Such a facility could expedite safe and appropriate management of envenomed patients.

Bitten by the “Flying” Tree Snake, Chrysopelea Paradisi

“…The majority of cases involve the Malayan pit viper Calloselasma rhodostoma and two indigenous cobra species (Naja kaouthia and Naja sumatrana), including the King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah (5)(6)(7)(8)(9). There are few reported cases of mild to severe envenomations being caused by rear-fanged colubrids, which were previously considered to be harmless to humans (1,(10)(11)(12). However, the clinical effects of bites from many other species in this family remain largely unknown.…”

“…However, it was noted that this snake's abdomen was distended, suggesting that it may have just recently fed, and thus the quantity of venom available for injection into the patient was reduced and there may not have been an adequate amount to produce significant envenomation ( Figure 4). The moderate local pain with raised CK level indicates that bites by C. paradisi, and possibly other Chrysopelea species, are not necessarily trivial and therefore warrant full evaluation (1).…”

“…Chrysopelea are rear fanged and believed to be mildly venomous. It is likely that C. paradisi possess toxin in a potent enough secretion from the Duvernoy's gland to quickly subdue its prey, however, the properties of this secretion and the effects of a bite on a human remain uncharacterized (1).…”

First Authenticated Case of Sri Lankan Flying Snake (Chrysopelea taprobanica) Bite

“…7 However, moderate local pain radiating along the lower limb and numbness that persisted for days had been observed in a patient bitten on her right middle toe by C pelias. 5 It is difficult to comment further on this as the venom characteristics of these snakes remain unknown. 5 The observed transient prolongation of whole blood clotting time does not confirm presence of a coagulopathy, as the laboratory clotting time performed at the same time was found within the normal range.…”

Crowdsourcing snake identification with online communities of professional herpetologists and avocational snake enthusiasts

“…Snake identification can be especially fraught [ 12 , 13 ] as many snakes resemble and mimic other species of snakes to which they may or may not be closely related [ 14 ]. The number of described species of snakes is growing rapidly, now more than 3800 species globally with approximately 30 new species described every year since the turn of the century, ca 20% of which are potentially dangerous to humans [ 15 ].…”