Komodo Dragons found to be venomous

[Thedus]

If I remember correctly, didn't one of the articles discussing Komodo Dragon venom mention that all lizards and snakes are venomous to a degree. I'm sure that it was touted as the reason that lizard and snake bites inflame and just fucking kill for hours on end!! (I should know - Iguana bite, no thanks!)

It's been theorized that snakes of the colubrid family may have slightly venomous saliva, however I don't think that has ever been proven. Some people, do show an allergic reaction to something in some reptile saliva causing swelling and discomfort beyond what others experience.  Personally, I've been bitten by boas, rat snakes (members of the colubrid family), garter snakes, milk snakes, northern water snakes, and bearded dragons... and I've never swelled or felt any discomfort (beyond that of a minor scratch).

I think that Dragon venom is both haemo and neurotoxic, hence the blood loss AND paralysis, it was only later in snake evolution that the venom specialised into either haemotoxins and neurotoxins. Both work as well as the other, only, as Thedus said, Haemotoxins take ages to kill, thus suiting a different hunting style for a more patient hunter; bite quickly, then just slowly follow.

Hemotoxins also break down protein - aiding in digestion.

[CompanyMan]

I've been bitten by boas, rat snakes (members of the colubrid family), garter snakes, milk snakes, northern water snakes, and bearded dragons...

Epic Thread idea. Things we have been bitten by.

bearded dragons...

My brother just bought two males and hit me up for aquarium building tips. I instantly got the itch get me one to!

[Thedus]

Epic Thread idea. Things we have been bitten by.

I like it! 

My brother just bought two males and hit me up for aquarium building tips. I instantly got the itch get me one to!

Beardies are great!  I'm not really a lizard person myself (though I did have one some years back), but they really are great lizards to have a pets.  They're personable, active, docile (usually), hardy, and relatively low maintenance (as far as lizards go).  And it's god that he got a pair since they are pretty social animals.  They fair well alone, but really prefer company.  Good tip on habitats for Beardies: they need an enclosure at least three times their length to offer enough space to move around in - which means adults will need enclosures 36-48 inches long.

[BishopIII]

 I know a few people who own beardies. I personally own a Green Water Dragon and a Leopard Gecko. Then I have a few entomological additions, including four species of Flower Mantis (Creobroter meleagris, Pseudocreobroter ocellata and wahlbergii, and Idolomantis diabolica), and a small colony of harvester ants (Messor barbarus).

 In addition to the aforementioned iguana bite, I've also been bitten by a young Burmese Python, a real foul-tempered sod!!