SNAKES ON A PLANE? NO, SNAKES ON A COIN
By Dennis G. Rainey, World Coin News
NumisMaster.com
Dec 16 2010
There are four families of snakes with venomous species, but by
far most are in only two families – Elapidae and Viperidae. The
elapids, the erect-fang snakes, include cobras, coral snakes, kraits,
mambas, sea snakes and the many Australian elapids. The viperids, the
folding-fang snakes, include true vipers and pit vipers (rattlesnakes,
copperhead and cottonmouth). The latest count of the number of species
of snakes in the world is 3,149. In this article I want to discuss
venomous snakes on coins, but first some introductory information.
One of the questions frequently asked is what is the most venomous
snake? There is some disagreement on the answer. Many say the inland
taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) found only in Australia is the most
venomous, but others think the Belcher’s sea snake (Hydrophis belcheri)
is number one. Advocates of the latter claim that this sea snake’s
venom is 100 times more toxic that the inland taipan, but I tend to go
with the inland taipan. Both species are elapids. There are some 325
species of elapids in most tropical and subtropical areas of the world
except Europe. Australia has the most elapid species with 83 currently
recognized. Two species of coral snakes occur in the United States.
The large (up to 18 feet) and well-known king cobra (Ophiophagus
hannah) is said to be the world’s most dangerous snake due to
delivering such a large quantity of fairly mild venom when biting.
However, the most deadly animal in the world probably is the tiny
box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) that has 60 tentacles with 5,000
stinging cells on each tentacle with enough toxin to kill 60 humans.
If stung, one has almost no chance of living unless treatment is
immediate. Death is caused by heart failure.
Viperids occur all over the world except Australia, New Zealand,
Ireland, Hawaii, Madagascar, Antarctica and the Arctic Circle. There
are some 224 species of viperids in the world. In the United States
species of rattlesnakes are the most numerous viperids, but I hesitate
to state the number of species because their taxonomy is presently
unsettled. Rattlesnakes are pit vipers that possess a heat-sensing
organ called a pit on each side of the head that is used to detect
prey.
The pits can detect body temperature just one-tenth degree warmer
than the surroundings. The venom produces extreme pain, local swelling
and tissue destruction. It is mainly hemotoxic. It attacks the blood
vessels and blood cells, disrupts the blood clotting system and
causes death from collapse of blood pressure. The Mohave rattlesnake
(Crotalus scutulatus), coins of which I have collected, is said to
be the most venomous rattlesnake.
In a follow-up article I will discuss the king brown snake and eastern
brown snake – both Australian elapids – and list coins depicting
these two species.
The following coins depict elapids and vipers:
Armenia: 2007 100 drams, KM-154, depicts the Armenian Mountain Viper
(Montivipera raddei). Australia: See Part 2 in the next issue of World
Coin News. Cocos (Keeling) Islands: 2004 10 cents, X# 12, depicts the
yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platurus); this coin is listed in
Krause Publications’ Unusual World Coins, 5th edition. Fiji Islands:
1986 200 dollars, KM-56, depicts the ogmodon snake (Ogmodon vitianus).
Russia: 1993 1 rouble, Y-374, and 1992 l0 roubles, Y309, both depict
the Central Asian cobra (Naja oxiana); 1999 1 rouble, Y-642, depicts
the Caucasian viper (Vipera kaznakovi). Turkmenistan: 1999 500 manat,
KM-17, depicts the Central Asian cobra.
You will notice in the following discussions that little natural
history is known about most species.
Armenian Mountain Viper
The Armenian mountain viper is a medium size viper also called the rock
viper whose natural history is largely unknown. It occurs in Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran and possibly Iraq. In Armenia it dwells in
rocky habitats of oak trees and bushes at elevations of 4,000 to 10,000
feet. There is a sexual difference in length. The maximum length for
males is 39 inches, and the maximum for females is 31 inches.
It has been declining seriously in Armenia due to habitat modification
for agriculture, large numbers collected for the pet trade and human
persecution. In the mid-1960s in their habitat, it was estimated
that there were 20-50 per hectare, in the 1980s 10-25 per hectare
and currently 3-9/hectare. (One hectare equals 2.47 acres.)
It eats mainly small rodents but also some lizards and ground nesting
birds. They are active only six months a year.
The only protected habitat is in the Khosrov Nature Reserve, where
in 2004 a preliminary radio-telemetry feasibility study was done,
and it appeared that this method could be used to study at least
movement. At this time the Armenian Viper Conservation Programme was
formed. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it
as Near Threatened.
Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It
is an Australian Territory. There are about 600 inhabitants with 60
percent unemployed.
The yellow-bellied sea snake has the widest distribution of any sea
snake. It dwells on both sides of the Pacific Ocean and is widespread
in the Indian Ocean. It favors coastal waters and spends its entire
life in water. Sometimes thousands congregate on the surface.
Its total length ranges from 28 inches for males to 35 inches for
females. It has a black back and yellow or brown belly and the tail
is oar-like. Its venom is mild but still can be lethal.
Ogmodon
The ogmodon, a small elapid that is a burrowing species, is also
called the Fiji cobra. It is said to be the world’s rarest snake. It
is endemic to the Fiji Islands, and nothing is known about its
natural history. Although venomous, it is said to be reluctant to
bite. I did find one statement that it apparently eats earthworms
and beetles. One captured female with eggs measured 12 inches. The
IUCN lists it as Vulnerable.
Central Asian Cobra
Until the early ’90s the Asiatic Cobra was considered to be a single
species, Naja naja, with many subspecies, but due to DNA analysis Naja
naja has been split into 11 species. The name Naja naja now applies
only to the Indian spectacled cobra, which is found only in India
(except Assam), Pakistan (except most of Baluchistan), Sri Lanka
and Nepal.
The Central Asian cobra is found in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,
Tadzhikistan, Kyrgyzstan, northeast Iran, northern and eastern
Afghanistan, northern half of Pakistan, Kashmir and east to Pradesh
(India). It is sometimes called the Russian cobra.
It dwells in rocky foothills, sometimes up to 10,000 feet altitude.
Published information on natural history was not found, except that
it eats small mammals, birds and amphibians.
Caucasian Viper
I did not find any published natural history information about the
Caucasian viper. It is found in southern Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan
and Turkey in forested slopes of mountains. The IUCN lists the
species as Endangered due to over-collecting for the pet trade and
habitat alteration.
From: A. Papazian