Killing bites

 
Published: Friday 15 December 1995

It takes the right amount of venol from the snake to kill its p I go. Larger the prey, more the venom and vice versa. William Hayes of tho University of Wyoming, US, in a series of laboratory experiment-4 demonstrated that rattlesnakes indeed 'meter' the quantity of venom they inject into mice of different sizes. This is especiaII4 done better by experienced snakes. Hayes used the enzyme link immunoabsorbant assay or ELISA technique to measure thl quantity of venom injected by estimating the venom in the body of the struck mice (Animal Behaviour, No 50,1995).

Subscribe to Daily Newsletter :

Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.