Contents
Aboul the authors.......................................................................................................... xix Foreword.................................................................................................................... XXiii Preface to the second edition........................................................................................ xxv Acknowledgments for the second edition................................................................... xxix Introduction............................................................................................................... xxxiii
CHAPTER 1 A summary of taxing taxonomic considerations: non-front-fanged snakes and the shifting sands of systematics............... 1
1.1 The shifting sands of taxonomic reassignments and their relevance to the envenomed patient................................................... I6
1.2 Brief glimpses of a vast landscape: the basics of taxonomic reassignments and discordance of morphological and molecular systematics investigations..................................................................................... 34
1.3 Outlined inventory of a recent higher phylogeny of Caenophidian snakes......................................................................... 33 1.3.1 Classification........................................................................... 33
1.4 General phylogenetic inventory of Caenophidian snakes: comments and consideration of known medical significance........................................................................................ 34
CHAPTER 2 Differences between buccal gland secretion and associated venom delivery systems of front-fanged snakes and non-front-fanged snakes: Low- versus high-pressure gland function and canaliculated versus solid dentition............................... 41 2.1 Basic considerations regarding gland structure and function.............................................................................................. 42 2.2 Overview of hypotheses for the evolution of venom-delivery systems and other adaptive gland functions...................................... 68 2.3 Theories considering the evolution of canaliculated fangs and enlarged grooved teeth................................................................ 71 2.4 Low-pressure‘ Duvernoy ' s glands ' and high-pressure venom glands: a question of semantics?............................................ 79 xiii