OTHER SNAKES TO AVOID


*NOTE: I am trying to do a report on the venomous snakes found in Belize. Yet, my findings are so scattered I don't know where to begin. For starters, the four graphs below show various opinions. As with anything worldly, territories expand and contract, and therefore conclusions can vary due to changes and observation results. I will try to come up with something more concrete soon.

Lets start with 4 poisonous snake lists.

Micrurus Diastema Atlantic Coral Snake
Micrurus Nigrocinctus Blackbanded Coral Snake
Agkistrodon Bilineatus Cantil or Mexican Moccasin
Bothrops Asper Tommy Goff
Bothrops Nummifer Jumping Viper
Bothrops Schlegelii Eyelash Viper
Crotalus Durissus Central American Rattlesnake
Bothrops Godmanni? ???
Bothrops Lansbergii LansbergÕs Hognose Viper

Micrurus Diastema Atlantic Coral Snake
Micrurus Hippocrepis ????
Micrurus Nigrocinctus Divaricatus Black banded Coral Snake
Agkistrodon Bilineatus Russeolus Cantil
Bothrops Atrox Tommy Goff, Barba Amarilla
Bothrops Nasutus Hog Nosed Pit Viper
Bothrops Nummifer Mexicanus Mexican Jumping Viper
Bothrops Schlegeli Eyelash Viper
Crotalus Durissus Durissus Central American Rattlesnake
Crotalus Durissus Tzabcan Yucatan Neotropical Rattlesnake

Among all species of snakes found in Belize, only 10 are considered dangerous to humans, but most aren't aggressive. The Coral Snake, the most poisonous in Belize, is one of these. Here is a list of these snakes:

C. A. Coral Snake (Micrurus Diastema)
Coral Snake (Micrurus Hippocrepis)
Rattler (Crotalus Durissus.)
Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis Schlegelii)
Fer de Lance (Bothrops Asper)
Hognose Viper (Porthidium Nasutum)
Jumping Viper (Atropoides Nummifer)
Mexican Moccasin (Agkistrodon Bilineatus)

Coral Snakes Family Elapidae
Many-Ringed Coral Snake Micrurus Diastema
Maya Coral Snake Micrurus Hippocrepis
C. A. Coral Snake Micrurus Nigrocinctus
Pit Vipers Family Viperidae
Mexican Water Moccassin Agkistrodon Bilineatus
Jumping Pit Viper Atropoides Nummifer
Eyelash Palm Pit Viper Bothriechis Schlegelii
Fer-de-lance Bothrops Asper
Tropical Rattlesnake Crotalus Durissus
Rhino Viper Porthidium Nasutum

Caske C. A. Coral Snake (Micrurus diastema): Mild tempered, but very strong neurotoxic venom.
* Coral Snake (Micrurus hippocrepis): Very strong neurotoxic venom.
* (Crotalus d.) 75% die from this sluggish rattler.
* Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii): Not aggressive, but strong hemotoxic venom.
* Fer de Lance (Bothrops asper): Strong, fast acting hemotoxic venom.
* Hognose Viper (Porthidium nasutum): Strong hemotoxic venom.
* Jumping Viper (Atropoides nummifer): Strong hemotoxic venom.
* Mexican Moccasin (Agkistrodon bilineatus): Strong, fast acting hemotoxic venom.
Caske 2000
The Wildlife Conservation Society
False Coral Urotheca Elapoides
False Fer-de-lance Xenodon Rabdocephalus
STORY FROM BELIZE, 5/15/99 by Jean-Philippe Soule and LukeShullenberger
Snakeman and the Ancient Mayan Medicine, Peter Singfield "Snakeman", Xaibe Village, Belize

During Peter's research and studies of natural medicines and Mayan culture, history and legends, Peter met a healer from El Salvador who introduced him to Cascabel. Cascabel is the Spanish word for rattlesnake, and from what the legends say, the source of one of the most potent medicines known to the Ancient Maya. Today varieties of Cascabel are still used in Central America and particularly in Mexico, but none have proven very effective healing major ailments. This was until Peter discovered a sub-species of the tropical rattle snake called Tzabcan (Crotalus Durissus) in northern Belize which produced a much more potent strain of Cascabel.

Singfield explains that the few Mayan codices (texts) that have been unearthed refer to a Cascabel preparation in which no agitated rattle snakes shall be used.

Supposedly it was believed that the anger in the snake causes changes in the make up of the medicine and that only the docile ones are acceptable.

Rattlesnakes, particularly tropical species, are quick, lean vipers known for their aggressive behavior, but the Tzabcan (Yucatec Mayan for Rattle Snake) is an exception. He theorizes that the docile and meaty Tzabcan is the rediscovered snake of lore. Wolfgang Wooster a Ph.D. in herpetology spent two months in Belize to verify Peter's discovery, and officially classified it as a new sub-species, known only in that region.

Cascabel doesn't treat the disease per say, it is a strong immune system enhancer which promotes rapid healing for many ailments. Snakeman has successfully treated patients with AIDS, cancer, terminal diabetes, ulcers and severe burns, infections and gangrene.