Snakebite
Among the 14 families of snakes, five are poisonous (Table II–56). The annual incidence of snakebite in the United States is three to four bites per 100,000 population. Clinically significant morbidity occurs in fewer than 60% of cases, and only a few deaths are reported each year. Bites from rattlesnakes are the most common snake envenomation in the United States, and the victim is often a young intoxicated male who was teasing or trying to capture the snake. Snakes strike accurately to about one-third of their body length, with a maximum striking distance of a few feet.
Families and Genera | Common Name | Comments |
|---|---|---|
Colubridae | ||
Lampropeltis | King snake | Human envenomation difficult because of small mouth and small, fixed fangs in the rear of mouth. Larger African species may cause severe systemic coagulopathy. |
Heterodon | Hognose | |
Coluber | Racer | |
Dispholidus | Boomslang | |
Elapidae | ||
Micrurus | Coral snake | Human envenomation difficult because of small mouth and small, fixed fangs in rear of mouth. Neurotoxicity usually predominates. |
Naja | Cobra | |
Bungarus | Krait | |
Dendroaspis | Mamba | |
Hydrophidae | Sea snakes | Also have small, rear-located fangs. |
Viperidae, subfamily Crotalinae | ||
Crotalus | Rattlesnake | Most common envenomation in United States. Long, rotating fangs in front of mouth. Heat-sensing facial pits (hence the name “pit vipers”). |
Agkistrodon | Copperhead, cottonmouth | |
Bothrops | Fer-de-lance | |
Viperidae, subfamily Viperinae | ||
Bitis | Puff adder, gaboon viper | Long, rotating fangs in front of mouth, but no heat‐sensing facial pits. |
Cerastes | Cleopatra’s asp | |
Echis | Saw-scaled viper | |
