Ophidism by the Green Palmsnake

Green palmsnake (Phylodryas viridissimus), ∼1.0 m total length, Potaro-Siparuni District, Guyana.

Impression of maxillary and palatine teeth of the green palmsnake at the base of my thumb, 1 hour postbite. Entry punctures of the rear fangs are visible as darker wounds. The right rear fang may have punctured my hand more than once.

Site of second bite from the same green palmsnake (Phylodryas viridissimus) about 1 hour after first bite (see Figure 1). The snake worked its rear fangs into my finger by pushing its open mouth as far forward as it could and then wriggling its head back and forth to assist puncturing. Wounds bled freely for about 20 seconds.