Venemous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere

Wednesday, November 17, 2004
12:05-1:15 pm Central Library Parlor

Jonathan A. Campbell, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Biology Department,
Academy of Distinguished Scholars, 2004

These animals comprise an important group to biologists and present a number of intriguing evolutionary, biogeographic, ecological, and physiological questions. They are also important for medical reasons, and to most people—layperson and scientist alike—represent a fascinating component of the animal world. There is a total of about 190 species of dangerously venomous snakes in North, Central, and South America, including those on a few offshore and several Lesser Antilles islands. Of these species are proteroglyphs (coralsnakes and seasnake) and the remainder are solenoglyphs (bushmaster, copperhead, lanceheads, rattlesnakes, and other pitvipers).

Free and open to all - Light refreshments