http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/08/06/to-keep-predators-away-snake-pretends-its-rear-is-a-head/ 80beats is DISCOVER\'s news aggregator, weaving together the choicest tidbits from the best articles covering the day\'s most compelling topics. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:07:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/08/06/to-keep-predators-away-snake-pretends-its-rear-is-a-head/comment-page-1/#comment-40690 Gadfly Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:46:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/08/06/to-keep-predators-away-snake-pretends-its-rear-is-a-head/#comment-40690 In most instances the toxins are only deadly when in the bloodstream, hence the delivery method of a bite. Remember the old snakebite remedy of sucking out the poison? Inevitably some is swallowed without ill effect. Although the method is now discouraged because if you have undetected sores in your mouth you would absorb some of the toxins that way -- probably not enough to kill in most cases but why take the chance. In any case, that's why predators can eat venomous critters. In most instances the toxins are only deadly when in the bloodstream, hence the delivery method of a bite. Remember the old snakebite remedy of sucking out the poison? Inevitably some is swallowed without ill effect. Although the method is now discouraged because if you have undetected sores in your mouth you would absorb some of the toxins that way — probably not enough to kill in most cases but why take the chance. In any case, that’s why predators can eat venomous critters.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/08/06/to-keep-predators-away-snake-pretends-its-rear-is-a-head/comment-page-1/#comment-40688 CW Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:17:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/08/06/to-keep-predators-away-snake-pretends-its-rear-is-a-head/#comment-40688 This is probably a dumb question, but I've always wondered something about poisonous snakes (and other animals). Do predators ever get sick or die after eating a poisonous snake? Or do predators know not to eat the parts of the snake that has the poison glands/sacks? This is probably a dumb question, but I’ve always wondered something about poisonous snakes (and other animals). Do predators ever get sick or die after eating a poisonous snake? Or do predators know not to eat the parts of the snake that has the poison glands/sacks?

]]>