He felt that given the fact that current broad spectrum antivenines were as dangerous as the bite itself in many cases, someone should find out what the bhps had in their system that could defeat such a range of toxins.
I've never seen it but he said bhps grab the vens mid body and work their way up to the head before swallowing, thus getting bitten in the process.
He was always looking for a PHD student to take it on but I guess that would be too scary for many.
Any comment?
I used to know a bloke up here (sadly deceased) named Graham Gow.
He claimed that bhp's were immune to the toxins of taipans, death adders, browns, etc.
He felt that given the fact that current broad spectrum antivenines were as dangerous as the bite itself in many cases, someone should find out what the bhps had in their system that could defeat such a range of toxins.
I've never seen it but he said bhps grab the vens mid body and work their way up to the head before swallowing, thus getting bitten in the process.
He was always looking for a PHD student to take it on but I guess that would be too scary for many.
Any comment?
Yep. familiar with that one. I make a word document first if I'm doing a big spiel these days, then cut and paste.
That is my point, if they will readily take on large monitors as a prey item, grabbing an Elapid mid boody hardly seems life threatening!
I know of a large BHP (2700mm) collected near Quamby in the early 70's that regurged a V. panoptes around 4 feet total length! I can imagine the smell of that in the back of the car on a 45 deg December day!
Didn't Graham Gow also say that Australia has like 21 of the top 25 most venomous snakes in the world..
Didn't Graham Gow also say that Australia has like 21 of the top 25 most venomous snakes in the world..
He probably did and was probably bitten by every one of them at one time or another.
He was a top bloke, never hid from his mistakes (and he made a few) and he was always willing to spend time with anyone interested in herps. The world's a poorer place......
Cant find Gordo on your friends list there cobber :?
Not saying he isn't/wasn't a good guy.. But come on.... If he really believes that... He is the biggest Australian homer ever...
Edit..
By the way I wasn't aware that he had died.. In that case I fully apologize for that comment..I thought he was alive and thought I would just make a sarcastic/joke comment.. I apologize...that was very disrespectful of me.
Not saying he isn't/wasn't a good guy.. But come on.... If he really believes that... He is the biggest Australian homer ever...
Edit..
By the way I wasn't aware that he had died.. In that case I fully apologize for that comment..I thought he was alive and thought I would just make a sarcastic/joke comment.. I apologize...that was very disrespectful of me.
Studies in Brazil and Venezuela, published in Toxicon in 1991, revealed that natural neurotoxin immunity (tested with snake venom) is the result of a protein, probably glycoprotein, designed to negate the effects of venom. It was also proposed that antihemmorhagic factors were based on the same mechanism. I'd like to study the field post grad as it's not yet comprehensively researched, especially in Australia.
We have to assume that BHP's get bitten in the process of subduing their prey, it would be hard to believe they don't, but does anybody know of an instance where it has been witnessed? have the effects or lack of actually been recorded post bite?
Mate it is a shame you didn't (or couldnt) put your hand up 10 years ago. Graham had every "raw material" you could possibly need and he was passionate about this line of research.
Good info. Thanks
Yeah unfortunately I was halfway through year 5. Huge shame though, would love to have had a chance to meet Graham, one can only imagine the knowledge and experience lost with greats like him. I'm sure it was passed on to the countless people who knew him though, and Snakes of Australia is a permanent member of my glove box =)
Don't you know what deceased means?
Thanks for the insightful and valuable contribution to the thread. Clearly there is at least 1 bigger Australian homer out there.
BHPs are not the only species immune to elapid venoms. More or less, all reptiles, including lacies, that prey on elapids are immune to their venoms.
Enter your email address to join: