SYMPTOMS AND CIRCUMSTANCES ASSOCIATED WITH BITES BY THE BROWN TREE SNAKE (COLUBRIDAE, BOIGA-IRREGULARIS) ON GUAM

A review of 94 cases of snakebite by the brown tree snake, Boiga irregularis, in Guam spanning a two year period shows a high proportion (80%) involve victims bitten while sleeping in their homes at night. Some bites apparently involve attempts to feed on small children. Of all children less than 1 yr old that were bitten in a two year period, infants 1-3 mo old comprised 82%. The symptoms exhibited by children are more severe than those experienced by adults. The snake is a rear-fanged (i.e., has enlarged and grooved-teeth on the posterior maxillae) colubrid with a moderately large Duvernoy's gland.