The blue coral snake from west Malaysia is a venomous snake that will attack and eat other venomous snakes. Human fatalities have fortunately been rare.
Species: Calliophis bivirgata flaviceps
A unique anatomic feature of the blue coral snake are the long venom glands, extending one quarter of the snake's body length. This allows them to store and release a large volume of venom.
Primary toxin: calliotoxin (δ-elapitoxin-Cb1a), a three-finger toxin (3FTx).
Calliotoxin interferes with voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) and causes extremely rapid onset of tetanic/excitatory spastic paralysis.
The venom does not contain a neurotoxin, which usually results in a flaccid paralysis.
The venom contains phospholipase A2, phosphodiesterase, 5'-nucleotidase and acetylcholinesterase.
The toxin can be cross-neutralized by a heterologous elapid bivalent antivenom from Taiwan. However, availability may be an issue.
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