ULTRAviolet
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Bush Vipers / Museum of Osteology/ Viper Wine
Celebrating rebel Reptiles
CONTENTS
01
03 05 27
VIPER DOSSIER
UNBELIEVABLE SNAKE FACTS
FANGS FOR THE MEMORIES
WE ARE SNAKE PEOPLE
07
Decoding the African Bush Viper.
13
A local bone-afide experience!
19
Snake venom wine has a bite!
SNAKE BITES
MUSEUM OF OSTEOLOGY
SNAKES ALIVE!
01
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern APPEARANCE: Heavily keeled scales. The breed is polymorphic and exhibits the full spectrum of color. LIFESPAN: 10—12 years ORIGIN: Subsaharan Africa
Bush viper care dossier
african Bush viper
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Atheris squamiger
MALE SIZE: 16—22 in FEMALE SIZE: 20—24 in TEMPERMENT: Mostly non-aggressive temperament, but will snap if hungry, fearful, or angry. DIET: The bush viper usually eats rodents, birds, lizards and frogs. As an ambush predator, it uses venom to kill prey. 02
DID YOU KNO An island off the coast of Sao Paolo is home to the Golden Lancehead Viper. It is the only place the so-called ‘world’s deadliest snake’ is known to live. Their venom is potent enough to melt human flesh. Access to Ilha de Queimada Grande is banned by the Brazilian government. Humans have been killed by its deadly inhabitants.
Snake Island is a forbidden rock located in Brazil, and civilians are forbidden to go: it has up to 5 snakes per square meter.
03
unbelievable snake facts
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04
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strong hemotoxic venom look forward to intense
affected are like a balloo
hemorrhaging and poss
antivenom. The antiveni
snakes have hardly any a
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ES
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TLUSER
,GNIGAHRR
THERE IS NO ANTIVENIn for a bush viper bite.
05
g pets, but have extremely
m. If you get bit you can pain, swelling of the Bush vipers are striking pets, but have extremely
on, blood clots, severe If you get bit you can ikirstrong ts erahemotoxic s repiv hsvenom. uB
sibly death. There is no Bush vipers are striking pets, but have extr onevlook cixoforward tomeh to gnintense orts pain, swelling of the
in used for similar types of strong hemotoxic venom. If you get bit you c affected are like a balloon, blood clots, severe
snetni ot draw rof kool
affect for these bites. look forward to intense pain, swelling of the hemorrhaging and possibly death. There is no
llab a ekil era detcef fa
affected are like a balloon, blood clots, seve antivenom. The antivenin used for similar types of
o p d n a g ni g a h r r o m e h
hemorrhaging and possibly death. There is snakes have hardly any affect for these bites.
T MORF ETIB A
evitna ehT .monevitna
antivenom. The antivenin used for similar ty Bush vipers are striking pets, but have extremely na yldrah evah sekans snakes have hardly any affect for these bite strong hemotoxic venom. If you get bit you can
AC SROTADERP
MEH ,REVEF NI
affected are like a balloon, blood clots, severe
BUSH VIPERS ARE STRIKING PETS,
.HTAED DHEMOTOXIC NA VENOM.
hemorrhaging and possibly death. There is no BUT HAVE EXTREMELY STRONG
antivenom. The antivenin used for similar types of
Fangs for the memories
look forward to intense pain, swelling of the
you get bit Bush you can vipers are forward striking snakes have Ifhardly any affect forlook these bites.to pets, but have extremely intense pain, swelling of the affected are like a balloon, clots, venom. severe If you get bit you can strong blood hemotoxic hemorrhaging and possibly death. There is no antivenom. The antivenin used pain, for swelling of the look forward to intense similar types of snakes have hardly any affect for these bites. affected are like a balloon, blood clots, severe hemorrhaging and possibly death. There is no
antivenom. The antivenin used for similar06types o
SNAKE
BITES repiV
Dec
07
hsuB nacirfA g
Snake Bites
S
coding the African Bush Viper Ven 08
The African Bush Viper is one snake in the many genus of Atheris snakes deserving the Viper name. This snake is highly poisonous. Its bite was previously believed to be harmless. We now know that to be untrue. A bite from these ambush predators can result in fever, hemorrhaging, and death. The many tree-swelling species of Bush Vipers are largely nocturnal hunters throughout the Rainforest and its bordering swamp and open woodland habitats. Since the species is remarkably polymorphic, occurring also in reds, oranges, grays, yellows, black, blues, olive, and various shades of brown, as well as green, all with or without darker or lighter crossbands, the name of green bush viper is notably inaccurate. Because they are a fairly small and very inactive snake, a relatively small terrarium will suffice for their care.
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E V EF NI TLUS ER N AC SROTADERP
H S U BM A E S EH T M O R F E T I B A
H S U BM A E S EH
Snake Bites
,RE V EF NI TLUS ER N A
ED DN A ,GNIGA HRROMEH
.HTA ED DN A ,G
TLUS ER N AC SROTADERP
H S U BM A E S EH T M O R F E T I A BITE FROM THESE AMBUSH
BM A E S EH T M O R F E T I B A
.HTA ED DN A ,GNIGA HRROMEH
,RE V EF NI TLUS ER N AC SROTADE PREDATORS CAN RESULT IN F HSUBM A ES EHT.HMTO AR EF D EDTNIB AA ,GNIGA HRROM HEMORRHAGING, AND DEATH ,RE V EF NI TLUS ER N AC SROTADERP
.HTA ED DN A ,GNIGA HRROMEH
US ER N AC SROTADERP RS CAN RESULT IN FEVER, H S U BM A E S EH T M O R F E T I B A DN A ,GNIGA HRROMEH AGING, AND DEATH. ,RE V EF NI TLUS ER N AC SROTADERP
H S U BM A E S EH T M O R F E
M A E S EH T M O R F E T I B A OM THESE AMBUSH
,RE V EF NI TLUS ER N AC SROTA
.HTA ED DN A ,GNIGA HRROMEH
.HTA ED DN A ,GNIGA HRR
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HEMORRHAGING, AND DEATH.
PREDATORS CAN RESULT IN FEVER,
HEMORRHAGING, A
PREDATORS CAN RE
HEMORRHAGING, AND DE
A BITE FROM THESE
PREDATORS CAN ,RE V EF NI TLUS ER N AC A BITE FROM THESE AMB HEMORRHAGING, .HTA ED DN A ,GNI PREDATORS CAN RESULT
A BITE FROM THE H S U BM A E S EH T
HEMORRHAGING, AND DEAT
A BITE FROM THESE AMBUSH
H S U BM A E S EH T M O R F E T I B A
,RE V EF NI TLUS ER N AC SROTADERP
.HTATHESE ED DNAMBUSH A ,GNIGA HRROMEH A BITE FROM
PREDATORS CAN RESULT IN FEVER,
HEMORRHAGING, AND DEATH.
PREDATORS CAN RESULT IN
SE AMBUSH
A vertically oriented terrarium of 15 or 20 gallon capacity is large enough for a pair or trio of adults. With a secure and sturdy climbing limb or two (preferably with comfortable forks), elevated corkbark hides, and a hardy live plant (such as a Pothos) a beautiful and very usable terrarium setup can be designed.
RESULT IN FEVER,
AND DEATH.
FROM THESE AMBUSH M A E S EH T M O R F E T I B A
ATORS CAN RESULT IN FEVER, LUS ER N AC SROTADERP
RRHAGING, AND DEATH. D DN A ,GNIGA HRROMEH
ROM THESE AMBUSH
RS CAN RESULT IN FEVER,
HAGING, AND DEATH.
These often misunderstood snakes require little space.
ELEVATED WATER DISH
Vertical Terrarium
Most bush vipers will drink readily from a water dish on the bottom of the cage but some may have difficulty recognizing this as the drinking source. It may be necessary to elevate the water bowl and roil the surface of the water with an aquarium air stone attached to a small vibrator pump.
Day: 80-82° Night: 75°
Research compiled by Kiley Hoffman
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l
° °
24 HOUR EXOTIC VET
Snake Bites
D H
NEEL VETERINARY CLINIC DR. BRAD MINSON 2700 N MacArthur Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK, 73127 12
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Museum of Osteology
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Museum of osteology
The museum is a truly incredible experience for the whole family. The bones of creatures of the sea are suspended in the air, while skeletons that once roamed far off lands perch on their stands; teeth, fangs and tusks exposed for examination. The rest of the museum delivers fascinating skeleton specimens of countless variety. The delicate bones of birds, snakes and woodland creature are artfully, and sometimes humorously, arranged alongside the massive skulls of bison and impressive skeletons of primates. There is most likely an example of your favorite type of animal housed as a skeleton behind the museum glass.
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Museum of osteology
ADMISSION Adults 13 and up: Children 3 — 12: Children under 3:
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$8.00 $7.00 FREE
Museum of osteology
The Museum of Osteology is located at 10301 S. Sunnylane Avenue, approximately two miles south of I-240 in Oklahoma City. For more information or to register for any of the classes, courses or events, call 405-814-0006 or visit www.museumofosteology.org. 18
SNAKES
ALIVE! THE VENOMOUS VINO WITH AN ADDED BITE
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Snakes Alive!
Forget eating the worm after downing your tequila - with these bottles of unusual wine produced in Vietnam, a tasty tipple comes with a far more potent bite. A village there is producing snake and scorpion wine and shipping it worldwide, with the rare beverage available to order online. Similarly, months of fermenting means the dead scorpion encased in the yellow bottles doesn’t have the same sting in the tail as when it was alive. These new pictures show how the cobras and black scorpions are preserved in the liquid to have their poison dissolve in the rice wine. Because snake venoms are protein-based, they are inactivated by the denaturing effects of ethanol, and thus are no more dangerous.Instead, the liquor is considered healthy and seemingly has many health benefits.
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This
Snakes Alive!
The venomous cobra snake is used to make the snake wine but the poison is cancelled out by the alcoholic content of the drink, meaning you’ll avoid a pounding hangover.
wine’s got bite! 22
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Pick your Poison. These rice-based liquors are also considered to be a strong natural aphrodisiac. While you might balk at the idea of giving your other half a bottle for Valentine’s Day, the drink has been touted as one of the most manly beverages ever made. Snake wine has been considered an effective curative for thousands of years but is also widely thought to increase male virility.
Snakes Alive!
There are thought to over 100 forms of ‘Ruou thuoc’ or ‘medicine wine’ available in Vietnam, many of which are infused with the remains of wildlife, with even endangered species included in the distilling process. Research compiled by Kiley Hoffman
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ICK My
ARDEN SLITHER YOUR GARDEN SLITHER INTOINTO YOUR GARDEN SLITHER SLITHER INTO YOUR INTOGARDEN YOUR GARDEN
I GOT AN APPLE WAITING FOR A BITE I GOT AN APPLEAPPLE WAITING FOR A FOR BITE II GOT GOT AN AN APPLE WAITING WAITING FOR AA BITE BITE
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chops
N
BITE
I LICK MYMY CHOPS UNTIL THETHE HAMMER DROPS I LICK ICHOPS LICK CHOPS UNTIL CHOPS UNTIL HAMMER HAMMER DROPS DROPS I LICK MYMY UNTIL THETHE HAMMER DROPS
YOU KNOW THAT IT JUST MIGHT KNOW THAT IT JUST MIGHT YOUYOU KNOW THAT IT JUST MIGHT YOU KNOW THAT IT JUST MIGHT
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SNAKE PEOPLE The most independent of all pet people, snake owners will mostly found as engineers, marketing/ public relations professionals, editors/writers or police officers. Because so many snake owners are very autonomous, many secure jobs in high-paying fields, or even go on to be entrepreneurs! Not everyone understands the pets we keep. Many reptile owners are alternative individuals, with traits such as leadership lending to their lone wolf status. While snake owners scored lowest in humor, they landed high marks in thoughtfulness!
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We are snake people