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Reptiles Magazine
While
January 25, 2021
Burmese pythons have evolved to be resistant to Cobra venom. Photo by rina oxilixo Danilova/Shutterstock
A new study coming out the University of Queensland in Australia has found that certain snake species that are preyed upon by venomous cobras have become neurotoxin resistant, helping them to avoid (at least those that are larger) being eaten by the venomous snake.
The researchers noted that the Burmese python (
Python bivittatus), for example, is extremely resistant to the venom of cobras. They also noted that while the Asian snakes are resistant to the neurotoxins found in cobra venom, Australian pythons that don’t live in the same environment as venomous, snake eating snakes, don’t possess the neurotoxic resistance.
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Credit: Bonnerscar
Certain snakes have evolved a unique genetic trick to avoid being eaten by venomous snakes, according to University of Queensland research.
Associate Professor Bryan Fry from UQ s Toxin Evolution Lab said the technique worked in a manner similar to the way two sides of a magnet repel each other. The target of snake venom neurotoxins is a strongly negatively charged nerve receptor, Dr Fry said. This has caused neurotoxins to evolve with positively charged surfaces, thereby guiding them to the neurological target to produce paralysis. But some snakes have evolved to replace a negatively charged amino acid on their receptor with a positively charged one, meaning the neurotoxin is repelled.
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