Snake slideshow

Terry's favorite snakes

Burrowing Adder:
Atracaspis microlepidota. Hunting upside down under South African termite mounds, this unlikely looking viper has the unique ability to choose which back fang will inject the deadly, hemotoxic venom. A pharmaceutical company used Terry's samples to develop an ace inhibitor, one of the primary substances in a blood pressure lowering medication on shelves today.

Gaboon Viper:
Bitis gabonica. Africa's Gaboon Viper is equipped with 2-1/4" front fangs injecting lethal amounts of venom which affect both the bloodstream and the nervous system. Bitten, a man will die if he does not either amputate or receive anti-venom immediately. Bravely, Terry's band of snake charmers collected venom for pharmaceutical research.

Habitats: Underground, Arboreal, Rivers, Oceans, Forests, Jungles, Deserts
Personality: Do Not Tread On Me!

Serpentes. Religious history from all over the world affects the way people view the 2,500 plus species of snakes which can be found adapting to almost any environment. Not all snakes are poisonous but the ones that are demand respect! Flickering, forked tongues between retractable, hypodermic fangs filled with deadly venom, it is no wonder snakes are feared, worshipped, hunted, respected and in some cases even considered evil incarnate.

Early on in the history of man and poisonous snakes, antivenin became a necessity. Like the leech, snake venom has been a medicinal tool for thousand of years but until recently man failed to realize the true wealth of potential lying untapped in the venom of these dangerously, well-equipped hunters.

Join Expeditionary Biologist, Terry Fredeking, and his team of specialists as they hunt the hunters and collect samples of what is just a specialized form of saliva! Discover the value of breaking down venom into enzymes and how it can and does improve the lives of humans daily. There is no end to what secrets Terry may unlock or what dangers they may encounter along the way!
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