Boiginae is a subfamily of reptiles of the Typical Snakes family Colubridae of the suborder Serpentes (Snakes). The subfamily is comprised of about 73 genera and 330 species most of which are found in Africa and tropical America, a few genera being found in North America, Europe and Asia and a single genus in Australia. All the members have grooved venom fangs at the rear of the upper jaw. Research Boiginae
Homalopsinae is a subfamily of reptiles of the family Colubridae (the Typical Snakes) of the sub-order Serpentes (Snakes). The subfamily contains eleven genera and about 35 species found in India through the far East to northern Australia. The members are aquatic, found in fresh water, brackish water and in the sea. All the members are opisthoglyphic with well-formed, grooved venom fangs at the rear of the upper jaw. Research Homalopsinae
Hydrophiidae is the 'Sea Snakes' family of reptiles of the sub-order Serpentes (Snakes). The family is comprised of two sub-families, sixteen genera and about 56 species native to the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. Most of the members are highly adapted to a marine existence with laterally compressed bodies and rudder-like tails which help them swim. The eyes are relatively small and the nostrils are valved, being kept closed while swimming. Sea Snakes have adapted to living in salt water and have a gland which extracts excess salt from the blood system, and passes it to the tongue for expulsion when the tongue is extended. The members have short proteroglyphic venom fangs at the front of the upper jaw. Sea Snakes feed largely on fish, particularly eels. Research Hydrophiidae
King snake (Lampropeltis) is a common name for a genus of North American constricting snakes. Like all constrictors, these reptiles squeeze their prey to death by coiling around it. They eat rodents, birds, and other snakes, including poisonous ones. Curiously, they are not affected by the venom of vipers. A common king snake is the chain snake, named because of its chain-like yellow or white markings. It is found throughout North America, and its colour and markings vary. It is about 1.2 to 1.5 metres long. Research King Snake
A snake is an elongated, limbless reptile of the suborder Serpentes of the order Squamata. Because of their 160 to 435 vertebrae, snakes are extremely flexible in their movements.
Snakes crawl along with their belly scales by pushing bends in their body against the surface over which they are moving. The tail is usually quite short, while the head is either indistinctly or clearly delineated from the body. Most snakes kill their prey either by suffocation (the constrictors) or by injecting venom (Venomous snakes), and then waiting for the prey to die, following it by scent. Smooth prey such as new-born mice, fish, amphibians and earthworms are swallowed alive. Snakes can dislocate their bottom jaw from the top, which combined with a bulging windpipe and 'floating ribs' enables them to swallow large prey. Research Snake
Toad (Bufo) is a large genus of over 100 species of batrachians, of world-wide distribution, with the exception of Australia and Madagascar ; most abundant in tropical America and the Indo-Malayan region. Closely related to the frogs (Rana), they differ from them in their flatter upper side, broader head, shorter limbs, and in the skin being dry and pimply, with glands which secrete an acrid fluid. In addition, the toads are toothless, and the tip of the tongue is not divided. They pass through a larval ('tadpole') stage similar to that of the frog, but the eggs, which vary from 700 to 2,000, are extruded in a double chain enclosed in a string of jelly, which is wound around water plants. The tadpoles are smaller and darker than those of the frog. The genus is represented in Britain by two species: the common toad (Bufo vulgaris) and the natterjack (Bufo calamita); but the former does not occur in Ireland.
The common species has on its upper side some tint of brown or grey, varying with its surroundings; and the under parts are whitish, more or less spotted with black. It seeks drier situations than the frog, and is inactive during the day, coming abroad in the dusk and feeding upon insects, worms, and snails large individuals on occasion catching small mice. One toad will in a night's foraging consume vast numbers of insects, so that its cooperation is always to be encouraged by gardeners. From ancient days the toad has been the subject of numerous erroneous beliefs, e.g. the possession of a jewel in its head, the power of ejecting venom, and of living for centuries entombed in solid stone or the heart of a tree. The toad hibernates, retiring in autumn to holes in dry ground or other suitable retreats, and on awakening in spring immediately seeks the ponds or ditches for mating and egg-laying. Research Toad
The water shrew (Neomys fodiens) has a fringe of bristly silvery-white hairs on the hind feet, a double row of hairs act as a keel on the tail for swimming. It is very dark in colour above, but the underside varies from white to grey. Sometimes it occurs as a very dark morph. The ear openings can be closed, and there are four uni-cuspid teeth. The water shrew moults in spring and autumn. Water shrews live generally close to water, that is mostly on the banks of swiftly flowing streams and weirs, and are especially abundant in watercress beds, and are also occasionally found near ditches, ponds and the seashore. They may be found as a temporary visitor in woodlands and grasslands. The nest is a ball of vegetation in an extensive burrow system, excavated by the shrew, using its front feet and nose. The entrance may be above or below water level, and the shrew may re-use mole tunnels. Water shrews eat mostly aquatic crustaceans and insect larvae, and terrestrial beetles, molluscs, worms, occasionally small fish, amphibia and mammals, which are caught both under water and on land. The water shrew produces a venom in its saliva which is effective against small mammals, and is a fast, adept swimmer, a good diver and floats like a cork due to the air caught in its very water-repellent coat. The breeding season is from April to September, with two litters a year possible, each of about six young, but maybe as few as three or as many as fifteen. The animals becoming sexually mature in their second year. Research Water Shrew
Haemophilia is several inherited diseases in which normal blood clotting is impaired. Haemophilia is an hereditary condition passed on by the mother who is not herself affected although all her male children are afflicted, and her daughters carry the same latent fault which they pass on to their own children. It used to be thought that no female could be affected but this is not so. Girls may in fact suffer from haemophilia. Trivial injuries produce gross haemorrhage and even the normal wear and tear on the joints is sometimes accompanied by tremendous haemarthrosis (blood in the joint).
Haemophilia is known to be due to an absence of certain clotting factors and is incurable. 'Closed' haemorrhage - that is haemorrhage under the skin or into an internal organ or joint - is usually self-limiting. A large haematoma results and in the case of a joint the haemarthrosis leads to stiffening and deformity. Surgical operation for any condition in a haemophiliac is extremely hazardous but blood transfusion improves the clotting power of the blood for a few days. Sooner or later almost every sufferer from haemophilia requires blood transfusion which has the dual effect of replacing lost blood and adding factors which produce clotting at the site of bleeding. In haemophilia, the usual methods of blood control by pressure, heat or chemicals are completely ineffective and the only local application which is of value is the venom from a particular species of adder, Russell's viper. This substance is supplied as a dry powder in glass ampoules and is useful for controlling the bleeding from small areas such as a tooth socket. A solution is made with water and applied on a small cotton wool swab. Research Haemophilia
The De Havilland DH 112 Sea Venom was a British two-seater carrier-borne all-weather fighter aircraft of the 1950's developed from the De Havilland DH 100Vampire. The De Havilland DH 112 Sea Venom was a cantilever mid-wing monoplane with power folding wings powered by a De Havilland Ghost 103 engine and later a De Havilland Ghost 105 engine providing a top speed of 909 kmh and a range of 1130 km when fitted with drop tanks. Armaments consisted of four 20 mm fixed cannons. A single-seater fighter bomber and two-seater night fighter version were also produced, both named the Venom.
In France, Sud-Est produced under license two versions of the De Havilland DH 112 Sea Venom under the name Aquilon. Research De Havilland DH 112
Abbreviations
Research Boiginae
