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Index to Creationist Claims,  edited by Mark Isaak,    Copyright © 2004
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Claim CB341:

Venomous snakes have hollow fangs and venom glands. Evolution would have had to produce both of these innovations together, since either would be pointless without the other.

Response:

  1. Venom is not pointless without hollow fangs. Gila monsters have venom glands without hollow fangs. Other venomous snakes have furrowed fangs. These show plausible intermediate forms to hollow-fanged venomous snakes:
    1. A nonvenomous snake already has teeth which break the skin of its victim.
    2. Poisonous saliva becomes advantageous to some snakes because it can get into the victim and kill it faster.
    3. Furrowed fangs allow the venom to be concentrated in the prey.
    4. The furrows gradually become enclosed, resulting in hollow fangs.

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created 2003-4-9