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Fang Facts

March 11, 2015

Fang Facts

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Avishai Shuter Avishai Shuter

Venomous snakes are found on every continent excluding Antarctica, and range in size from just a few inches to almost 20 feet long. All of these snakes have one of three fang structures: proteroglyphous, solenoglyphous, or opisthoglyphous. And each type is unique to a different family of snake.

Solenoglyphous snakes belong to the viper family, which includes pit vipers like rattlesnakes (above, skull of eastern diamondback rattlesnake) and ‘true vipers’ like Gaboon vipers. This type of fang is attached to the jaw by a hinge, so they can be folded up against the roof of the mouth when not in use.  This folding action allows vipers to have the longest fangs of all venomous snakes, with some reaching over two inches long.

Proteroglyphous snakes all belong to the elapid family, which includes cobras, mambas, sea snakes, and coral snakes. This type of fang is fixed to the jaw and cannot fold up. Because of this, elapid fangs must be shorter than those of vipers.

Opisthoglyphous snakes are found only in the colubrid family, which includes many venomous and non-venomous species. This type of fang is located at the back of the mouth rather than the front, making envenomation a more complex task. Most rear-fanged snakes are harmless to humans, but a few, like the boomslang, can be deadly.


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19 comments

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Ruby
July 20, 2016 at 7:34 am

Hi! Thanks for posting! This article has been helpful and informative and entertaining. Thanks again! Keep me posted!

Eli
January 27, 2017 at 10:13 am

i want to know every thing important about a diamond back rattlesnake

Suki
January 8, 2018 at 6:23 pm

Hi this is helpful

anthony
February 8, 2018 at 10:40 am

hi. i love you

Name
September 22, 2018 at 12:32 am

Thx 4 the information

Linda
March 2, 2019 at 9:59 am

How long does it take to refill the venom into the fangs for a lethal new bite?

Nono
October 5, 2019 at 7:01 am

Is it possible to recognise type of fange by snake bite marks on human body? And by there kind of snake that is responsable of the bite.

Milind
December 22, 2019 at 9:43 pm

One year Afttar dead sneak teeth poisoned yes or no. sir …

Subh
March 28, 2020 at 12:16 am

HELPFUL AND INFORMATIVE

Deejay
July 30, 2020 at 1:55 pm

I got some kind of Thang or claw trying to see what it is looks old

Deejay
July 30, 2020 at 1:58 pm

I got some kind of Fang or claw trying to see what it is looks old

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  • Jack Casper
    December 15, 2020 at 12:31 pm

    Can I buy the snake head fossil

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  • differencess.com
    April 18, 2021 at 4:38 pm

    elaborated facts fangs basically act as hypodermic needle while injecting venom.

    User
    September 3, 2021 at 7:01 am

    Hi!
    Was helpful!
    I wanted to know if snakes had teeth.
    Wasn’t the right page for me, but the info was useful!
    Thanks! 🙂

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  • Christy
    July 5, 2023 at 7:01 pm

    I need to know if these snake veins are long enough to penetrate through muscle.