Long-glanded blue coral snake has unique venom

October 31, 2016 by Bryan Fry

Blue coral snake. Credit: Tom Charlton

One of the world’s most beautiful and venomous snakes has a venom unlike that of any other snake, research involving University of Queensland scientists has revealed.

The School of Biological Science’s Associate Professor Bryan Fry said venom from South-East Asia’s long-glanded blue coral snake had been found to send a massive shock to the system, triggering full body spasms by causing all nerves to fire at once.

“This style of venomous predation is identical to that of a cone snail, and not like any other snake in the world,” he said. Read more.