Practically everyone is aware of the widespread fear of snakes exhibited by people of all races and in all walks of life. This fear although largely emotional, is rationalized by many persons with the statement “Well, it MIGHT be poisonous.” Other persons believe that there is some rule of thumb, such as a flat or triangular-shaped head, by which all poisonous snakes may be recognized. A great many persons kill all snakes, just on general principles. Thus the innocent suffer with the guilty, the harmless with the dangerous.
As scientists explore deeper and deeper into the intricacies of animal behavior and obtain more and more knowledge of the ecological relationships among animals and between animals and plants, it becomes increasingly clear that these relationships present a delicate balance or adjustment of nature. Epidemic diseases, disasters such as fires and floods, and radical climatic changes may upset or alter these relationships, sometimes with far-reaching effects.
But the greatest and most persistent disturber of the biological peace is MAN. Almost every time man reduces or destroys one phase of nature, he releases, in so doing, previously unrecognized forces which turn on him in a manner that he least expects. Snakes, in general, live on small rodents, thereby helping to maintain a balance whereby rodents are unable to increase to such a point that they get out of nature’s control. Kill all of the snakes in a given area, and some of the control on rodent population is removed with a resulting increase in the destruction of vegetation and consequent damage to farmers’ crops. So if you must kill snakes, by all means limit your activities to those which are known definitely to be poisonous.
One of the purposes of this booklet is to familiarize the desert dweller or visitor with the snakes that ARE poisonous. All the rest are harmless, in fact they are generally beneficial to mankind, even though their heads may be triangular in shape. A given territory is capable of supporting a rather definite number of snakes. Kill the harmless ones and those that come in to take their place may be poisonous species.
In all parts of the country certain creatures, particularly reptiles, are credited with supernatural powers for causing injury or aid to human beings. Among aboriginal peoples, these superstitions are a part of their religion and have a powerful effect upon their thinking. For example, among the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona, snakes may be messengers who, if properly indoctrinated, will convey to the rain gods expressions of the people’s need for moisture in order that their crops may mature.
Even among a people who for years have had the benefit of scientific knowledge, superstitions persist. The hoopsnake and the milksnake offer cases in point, and there will be readers of this booklet who will toss it aside in anger because it states that both of these myths arewithout substantiation in fact.
Two adult banded gecko lizards
Two adult banded gecko lizards
These imaginary tales are passed from generation to generation and are the strongest in regions where the percentage of uneducated people is high. This situation exists in the South and Southwest. Many persons who have been denied educational opportunities are extremely credulous and have a long list of creatures to each of which they credit injurious or helpful powers. A majority of these creatures are perfectly harmless, but they are too numerous to be given space in this publication. However, it seems only fair to mention a few of the commonest of these persecuted species in the hope that they may be recognized as not only harmless, but in many cases actually beneficial to man. Thus may their unwarranted persecution be somewhat reduced.
Quite small, with velvety skin and delicate markings making it appear fragile and semitransparent, this lizard has little to inspire fear. Hiding away during daylight hours in dark and preferably moist retreats, it comes forth at night in search of insects for food.
It is rarely seen unless disturbed in its hiding place, which may be in the corner of a closet or cupboard beneath the sink. If captured, it struggles to escape, emitting a faint, high-pitched squeak.
Although the banded gecko is sometimes mistaken for the young of a Gila monster, in general the desert people accuse it of no definite crime, stating merely “we have heard that it is very poisonous,” and in consequence, kill it whenever they find it.
Probably because of its large and prominent jaws, the solpugid,Eremobates sp., which is closely related to the spiders, is greatly feared.
Solpugid or sun Spider
Solpugid or sun Spider
“Anything so ugly MUST be poisonous,” seems to be the principal basis for its unhappy reputation.
It is often found inside buildings where it has gone in search of insect prey, and Mexican families living in adobe houses with dirt floors are reported to be terrorized by it. In Mexico and in many parts of the Southwest it is known asniña de la tierraor child-of-the-earth.
The range of the solpugid or sun spider is by no means limited to the desert, but its reputation as a poisonous creature seems to be much worse in the Southwest than elsewhere.
The solpugid not only is perfectly harmless to man but does not rely on poison in capturing its prey, as it has no venom glands whatever.
Whereas the solpugid is called child-of-the-earth in the southern portions of the Southwest, in the northern part of this territory another creature, the Jerusalem cricket, sand cricket, orchachois reported asimbued with the same dangerous qualities evidently credited to any creature to which this name has been applied.
Jerusalem cricket, sand cricket, or chacho(Photo by Marvin H. Frost, Sr.)
Jerusalem cricket, sand cricket, or chacho(Photo by Marvin H. Frost, Sr.)
Although quite common, the Jerusalem cricket,Stenopelmatussp., is shy and nocturnal in its habits. Its striking appearance is due to its head which is round, bald, and with markings on top that form, with the use of a little imagination, a simple, smiling face. It is this that suggests to the Spanish-speaking people of the Southwest, who occasionally dig it from its burrow, the name “niña de la tierra.” The Navajo Indians call itwoh-seh-tsinni, meaning Old Man Bald-head.
By the superstitious natives, this creature is believed to be highly venomous and frequently the death of a horse or cow is blamed by the owner on a “chacho” that has crawled into the hay.
Actually, the Jerusalem cricket is harmless and may be handled with perfect impunity by anyone, although it may inflict a painful nip.
Since people coming from Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas bring the majority of tales regarding the deadly characteristics of the little vinegaroon or whip-tail scorpion, fear of it is apparently more widespreadover the cotton belt as a whole than within the desert regions of the Southwest.
Vinegaroon(Photo by Marvin H. Frost, Sr.)
Vinegaroon(Photo by Marvin H. Frost, Sr.)
The name vinegaroon stems from the fact that when the little creature is injured or smashed it gives off the odor of an acetate similar to that of acetic acid, the principal ingredient of vinegar.
Equipped with a massive pair of pincers, the vinegaroon, like the solpugid, gives an impression of fierceness which is probably the basis for much of its reputation as a dangerous criminal. However, the pincers are used in catching and holding prey and have no poison mechanism in connection.
The hairlike posterior appendage, or tail, is without any protective or offensive mechanism whatever, so that the creature is perfectly harmless insofar as human beings are concerned.
In fact, like the solpugid and the banded gecko, its food habits cause it to rid the world of a great many insects during the course of its life and many of its victims are certain to be noxious to the interests of mankind.
All of these creatures, then, are not only harmless, but are actually beneficial to man, and they deserve to be freed from the persecution resulting from ignorance and superstition, and to be permitted to live in their normal relationship with other creatures.
[1]Kent, Melvin, and Stahnke, H. L., “Effect and Treatment of Arizona Scorpion Stings,”Southwestern Medicine, April, 1939, pp. 12-121, 124.[2]Bogen, Emil, “Poisonous Spider Bites,”Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 99, No. 24, December 10, 1932.[3]Thorp, Raymond W., and Woodson, Weldon D.,Black Widow, America’s Most Poisonous Spider, University of North Carolina Press, 1945.[4]Baerg, W. J., “The Effects of the Bite ofLatrodectus mactans,”Journal of Parasitology, Vol. IX, No. 3, March, 1933, pp. 161-169.[5]Wehrle, L. P., “Observations on Three Species ofTriatoma,”Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society, Vol. XXIV, No. 3, June, 1939, pp. 145-154.[6]Matheson, Robert,Medical Entomology, Charles C. Thomas, Baltimore, Md., 1932.[7]Jones, W. Ray, King County Medical Association, Seattle, Washington.[8]Githens, T. H., “Snake Bite in the United States,”Scientific Monthly, August, 1935, pp. 163-167.[9]Pope, Clifford H.,Snakes Alive and How They Live, Viking Press, New York, 1942.[10]Klauber, L. M.,Rattlesnakes, Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind, 2 vol., University of California Press, Berkeley, 1956.[11]Cowles, R. B., and Bogert, C. M., “Observation on the California Lyre Snake,Trimorphoden vandenburghi, Klauber. With notes on the Effectiveness of Its Venom,”Copeia, July 16, 1935.[12]Stahnke, Herbert L.,Scorpions, Arizona State University Bookstore, Tempe, Arizona, 1949.[13]Loeb, Leo, and collaborators,The Venom of Heloderma, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1913.
[1]Kent, Melvin, and Stahnke, H. L., “Effect and Treatment of Arizona Scorpion Stings,”Southwestern Medicine, April, 1939, pp. 12-121, 124.
[2]Bogen, Emil, “Poisonous Spider Bites,”Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 99, No. 24, December 10, 1932.
[3]Thorp, Raymond W., and Woodson, Weldon D.,Black Widow, America’s Most Poisonous Spider, University of North Carolina Press, 1945.
[4]Baerg, W. J., “The Effects of the Bite ofLatrodectus mactans,”Journal of Parasitology, Vol. IX, No. 3, March, 1933, pp. 161-169.
[5]Wehrle, L. P., “Observations on Three Species ofTriatoma,”Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society, Vol. XXIV, No. 3, June, 1939, pp. 145-154.
[6]Matheson, Robert,Medical Entomology, Charles C. Thomas, Baltimore, Md., 1932.
[7]Jones, W. Ray, King County Medical Association, Seattle, Washington.
[8]Githens, T. H., “Snake Bite in the United States,”Scientific Monthly, August, 1935, pp. 163-167.
[9]Pope, Clifford H.,Snakes Alive and How They Live, Viking Press, New York, 1942.
[10]Klauber, L. M.,Rattlesnakes, Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind, 2 vol., University of California Press, Berkeley, 1956.
[11]Cowles, R. B., and Bogert, C. M., “Observation on the California Lyre Snake,Trimorphoden vandenburghi, Klauber. With notes on the Effectiveness of Its Venom,”Copeia, July 16, 1935.
[12]Stahnke, Herbert L.,Scorpions, Arizona State University Bookstore, Tempe, Arizona, 1949.
[13]Loeb, Leo, and collaborators,The Venom of Heloderma, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1913.
Comstock, John Henry: “The Spider Book,” Comstock Publishing Co. Inc., Ithaca, N. Y., 1948.Klauber Laurence M.: “Rattlesnakes, Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind,” 2 volumes, University of California Press, Berkeley, 1956.Minton, Sherman A. Jr.: “Snakebite,” Scientific American, p. 114, January, 1957.Shannon, Federick A.: “Comments on the Treatment of Reptile Poisoning in the Southwest,” reprinted from Southwestern Medicine, Volume XXXIV, No. 10, October, 1953.Stahnke, Herbert L.: “Scorpions,” Poisonous Animals Research Laboratory, Tempe, Arizona, 1956.Stahnke, Herbert L.: “The Treatment of Venomous Bites and Stings,” Poisonous Animals Research Laboratory, Tempe, Arizona, 1958.
Comstock, John Henry: “The Spider Book,” Comstock Publishing Co. Inc., Ithaca, N. Y., 1948.
Klauber Laurence M.: “Rattlesnakes, Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind,” 2 volumes, University of California Press, Berkeley, 1956.
Minton, Sherman A. Jr.: “Snakebite,” Scientific American, p. 114, January, 1957.
Shannon, Federick A.: “Comments on the Treatment of Reptile Poisoning in the Southwest,” reprinted from Southwestern Medicine, Volume XXXIV, No. 10, October, 1953.
Stahnke, Herbert L.: “Scorpions,” Poisonous Animals Research Laboratory, Tempe, Arizona, 1956.
Stahnke, Herbert L.: “The Treatment of Venomous Bites and Stings,” Poisonous Animals Research Laboratory, Tempe, Arizona, 1958.
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This booklet is published in cooperation with the National Park Service by theSOUTHWEST PARKS AND MONUMENTS ASSOCIATIONa non-profit distributing organization pledged to aid in preservation and interpretation of Southwestern features of outstanding national interest.
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100 DESERT WILDFLOWERS IN NATURAL COLOR.Dodge. Descriptions and full-color portraits of 100 of the most interesting desert wildflowers. Photographic hints. 64 pp., full-color cover, paper.$1.50
100 ROADSIDE WILDFLOWERS OF SOUTHWEST UPLANDS IN NATURAL COLOR.Dodge. Companion book to author’s 100 Desert Wildflowers in Natural Color, but for higher elevation flowers. 64 pages and full-color cover, paper.$1.50
FLOWERS OF THE SOUTHWEST DESERTS.Dodge and Janish. More than 140 of the most interesting and common desert plants beautifully drawn in 100 plates, with descriptive text. 112 pp., color cover, paper.$1.00
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FLOWERS OF THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS.Arnberger and Janish. Descriptions and illustrations of plants and trees of the southern Rocky Mountains and other Southwestern ranges above 7,000 feet elevation. 112 pp., color cover, paper.$1.00
MAMMALS OF THE SOUTHWEST DESERTS(formerly Animals of the Southwest Deserts). Olin and Cannon. Handsome illustrations, full descriptions, and life habits of the 42 most interesting and common mammals of the lower desert country of the Southwest below the 4,500-foot elevation. 112 pp., 60 illustrations, color cover, paper.$1.00
MAMMALS OF SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS AND MESAS.Olin and Bierly. Companion volume to Mammals of Southwest Deserts. Fully illustrated in exquisitely done fine and scratchboard drawings, and written in Olin’s masterfully lucid style. Gives description, ranges, and life habits of the better known Southwestern mammals of the uplands. Color cover, paper$2.00
Cloth$3.25
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Write For CatalogSOUTHWEST PARKS AND MONUMENTS ASSOCIATIONBox 1562—Globe, Arizona 85501
12th Edition (Revised) 8-70—20M
Onpage 29, we regretfully acknowledge a typographical error. Step 3 of the cryotherapy treatment should read: