If you thoughtSnakes On A Planewas an improbable action motion picture , you might be surprised to learn there is some historical true statement to it , although these reptiles are come to Hawaii , not leave behind it . Snakes have been stowing away on aeroplane for more than 70 years , with diabolic upshot for Pacific birdie animation . New research on the venom of the Hydra involve has revealed the threat to island birds is keen than antecedently realized .
Guam used to have 14 native hoot species and no snake . In the 1950s chocolate-brown tree snake , aboriginal to Australia , were sighted on the island , and thereafter people detect falling bird act . Eventually , it was understand the snake had slither up the landing paraphernalia of military planes during the Second World War and made their way to the island .
Brown Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree snakes ( Boiga irregularis ) have a venom that although " not grave to humans , is 100 times more toxic to birds than to mammals,”Dr Bryan Fryof the University of Queensland said in astatement . Consequently , Guam now has three surviving species of aboriginal birds . Having not find a snake for millions of year , the other birds did n’t have time to evolve endurance chemical mechanism .
US military planes fell frequently between major bases on Guam and Hawaii , where the rich native birdie life is just as unfamiliar with ophidian as Guam ’s used to be . If a pregnant snake , or breeding pair , make the journeying the consequences will be horrific . Fry told IFLScience planes putting down their landing place gear wheel for arrival in Hawaii have had dark-brown tree Snake River fall out .
ophidian - sniffing dogs have been deployed to endeavor to see the stowaway , but Fry told IFLScience ; “ No method like that will ever be 100 percent effective . ”
Fry reports more bad news in a field of study of the venom of brown Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree snakes and their relative published in theJournal of Molecular Evolution .
He explained to IFLScience it used to be thought there was something distinctive about the brown tree ophidian that made it a “ first-rate - pest ” . However , he and his co-worker found the bird - killing atom in its venom , form from the joining of two modest toxins , is very similar to those of otherBoigaor cat - eyed snakes , the genus to which it belong .
The brown tree diagram snake in the grass just happened to be in the right place at the right time to catch a wartime ride . While the main scourge comes from Guam , if a unlike cat - eyed snake were to make it to Hawaii from any of their habitats across Asia or Australia , the effect could be just as bad .
Fry hop that the more known about quat - eyed snakes ’ biology and behavior , the better the chances will be of preventing them from infesting vulnerable island .
