Size matters, but you might just have two dead snakes (more)

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Posted by MsTT on August 07, 2000 at 18:51:30:

In Reply to: king snake eating a cotton mouth, or,vice versa posted by j.garrity on August 07, 2000 at 16:06:46:

: can any one help me with a question i was asked but have never given it any thoght.i know that a king snake can and has eaten rattlesnakes,but in a confrintation between a king snake and a western cotton mouth,both of who are ophiophagous,who would be the diner and who would be the dinner?i would think that unless the cottonmouth venom had an efect on the king snake,it wouldnt have a chance seeing as the king snake is a constrictor and the cottonmouth is not.your thoghts please.james

Cottonmouths are not that strong physically, compared to a powerful constrictor like a king snake, but their venom is a moderately potent load. I understand that some kingsnakes show resistance to the venom of specific rattlesnakes in their range, but I am not certain that their habitats overlap sufficiently for any kingsnake species to have evolved resistance to cottonmouth venom.

Probably you'd have two dead snakes. This is not a contest I'd like to see, personally.

Regards,

MsTT

Follow Ups:

Just Read Copperheads Are A Part Of Florida King's Diet--> Hanna 08/08/00 (0)
Won't Florida Kings Eat Cottonmouths?--> Hanna 08/07/00 (1)
- Most snakes in my experience will not eat cottonmouth MsTT 08/08/00 (0)

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: : can any one help me with a question i was asked but have never given it any thoght.i know that a king snake can and has eaten rattlesnakes,but in a confrintation between a king snake and a western cotton mouth,both of who are ophiophagous,who would be the diner and who would be the dinner?i would think that unless the cottonmouth venom had an efect on the king snake,it wouldnt have a chance seeing as the king snake is a constrictor and the cottonmouth is not.your thoghts please.james : Cottonmouths are not that strong physically, compared to a powerful constrictor like a king snake, but their venom is a moderately potent load. I understand that some kingsnakes show resistance to the venom of specific rattlesnakes in their range, but I am not certain that their habitats overlap sufficiently for any kingsnake species to have evolved resistance to cottonmouth venom. : Probably you'd have two dead snakes. This is not a contest I'd like to see, personally. : Regards, : MsTT

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