Snakes

[Penny & Bryce]

No: HPFGUIDX 31787

Hi --

cindysphynx wrote:

> Margaret wrote:
> 
>  > No, and there's a very simple reason why not.  Nagini is a
>  > poisonous snake, evidenced by the fact that Wormtail is "milking"
>  > her for venom on Voldy's behalf.  Boas are non-poisonous; they
>  > kill their prey by constriction.
>  >
>  > I'm all for the Brazilian Boa turning up again, though!  :)
>  >
>  >
> 
> Drat!  OK.  How about this?  Does the diamond pattern on Nagini's
> tail tell us what kind of snake Nagini is?  Are there 12-foot long
> venomous snakes?  Are Boas long enough to wrap around a car twice? 

Yes, and yes.  I assume Nagini is a cobra, and many cobras can grow to 
be 12 feet or more in length.  Nagini is a pretty clear reference to Nag 
& Nagana of Rikki Tikki Tavi (Kipling) IMO.  I think we've discussed 
this before ... Dave H had some thoughts on this.

Yes, boas can also be quite large, although finding one long enough to 
wrap around a car twice might be a bit rare.  Anacondas *are* that large 
though & are related to boas.

I was all set to say exactly what Margaret the herpetophile said re: 
Nagini being venomous & not at all related to the boa in the zoo.  :--)

Penny
(also a long-time herpetophile)