Can Snakes Die Of Their Own Venom ?

Like you, I've never heard of a snake dying from it's own venom, but I've also not heard of a snake biting itself either, when they catch their prey they are biting the prey and injecting the venom rather than biting themselves. However, if you mean why doesn't the snake die after eating the prey into which the venon passed from the snake, then I presume that's the same reason the snake doesn't die from having venom in its body to start with. A large part of this is probably down to the immune system and genetic makeup of the snake, the same would be true of spiders and other venemous creatures. Human's do not have the same genetic makeup as a snake, just as we don't for a bee, or wasp so their defence mechanisms still affect us, but mostly in limited ways. Snake bites will always have the potential to kill unless there is a vaccine created which ensure we humans build up our own immunity to the toxins. At least that's my take

I watching the Discovery Channel from time to time and this is my thought to it. I believe a snake won't die from his own venom because he produce it. It's already in his system, he is immuned to his own posionious venom. Now the real question would come in if another deadly venomous snake bit the other snake, would he die? Look at you having me dig deeper into my thoughts this evening..lol

No we could never have what they are born with. It is complicated because it deals with their cells and a protection of protein covering each cell. That is why some snakes do not die by other snakes venom, but some snakes are killed by other snakes. Here is what I found on the subjuect. All venomous animals have some kind of protection of their own venom, some have protection against other species venom but not against all of them. It is like a protein cage that built around the venom that protects the rest of the cells from it. That is just the way they are born that way. That thing prevents the venom from attacking its own body.

This is a nice post, bluewings... though I haven't heard of any snakes dying coz of their own venom, I was amused what their venoms can do to cure some illness... maybe that's only a sign that someday soon, in order to cut down the risk of humans dying because of snake bites, we could possibly get a few shoots of venom injected to us which would somehow be getting into our immune system. :P

Never, I don't have any intrest in snakes also so you might search it out in http://animalworld.com This site might help. Plus you may also visit the animal planet and animal kingdom sites. It's easy to get answers from there but i'm now rather inrested to know this. I heared that they don't die because of thier specaility in I don't remember what and their tongue having something in thier mouths enterance. Thank you that's all I know.

wow,i got a dictionary to see your discussion,and i think your idea is feasible,maybe some scientists are working on it now,but,now,snakes are a kind of animal we need to protect,there are not so much on the world,especially those poisonous ones.

Have not heard of them dying of the venom. Cleopatra had a nastier snake. Different snakes have differenet potencies of venom also. All different enough to require different antivenom serums. Not sure if that possibility would ever be truly needed. We are slowly killing off the animals. Taking up their space too.

Astounding theory buddy! Sorry if was not able to respond to some of your discussion been so busy with work and law school. I never heard of a snake dying on it's own venom but I heard venom have some medicinal purpose to humans, and I really think with advance technology we have there is possibility that human can develop a injected shoot to be able for us not to be poisoned by a snake venom.

Interesting theory . Yes, one day we would be more poisnious than snakes infact right now humans are poisnious in comparison to anyother breed on this earth.