What type of venom is primarily implied by placing Crotalus atrox within the family Viperidae for medical personnel?
Answer
Hemotoxic venom that primarily attacks tissues and blood clotting mechanisms.
Classification within the family Viperidae immediately informs observers, including medical personnel and researchers, about the likely nature of the snake's toxin. Viperid venom is characterized as hemotoxic, meaning its primary action involves damaging local tissues and interfering with the body's blood clotting processes. This contrasts with other major snake families, such as the Elapidae, where the venom profile might lean heavily towards neurotoxins affecting the nervous system. The specific venom profile of *C. atrox* includes significant enzymes that cause local tissue destruction.
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