Martin H. Eastburn wrote:

> The locals might not understand what or why but those touching the shell
> might get very ill...

* remember that toxic-plumaged Birds were unknown until they were
discovered in New Guinea a few years ago...
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/the_evolution_of_poisonous_bir.php
...and since snails are chemical specialists, there's no a priori reason
to suppose that some aren't acutely toxic to Peeople.

fred.
============================================
>>
>>     ----- Original Message -----
>>     *From:* John Varner <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>>     *To:* [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>>     *Sent:* Sunday, November 15, 2009 7:38 AM
>>     *Subject:* Re: [CONCH-L] New questions
>>
>>     A friend who is a research biologist / arborist recently returned
>>     from Peruvian rainforest, where some of the locals had advised him
>>     not to handle one of the local landsnails because it was
>>     venomous.  He said that the locals seemed to asiduously follow
>>     their own advice to him, though they didn't hesitate to handle
>>     other species of land snails.
>>     Does anyone know of Peruvian landsnails that are dangerous,
>>     either because they are venomous or vectors of disease?
>>
>>     - John
>>
>>
>>
>>     >
>>
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>
> --
> Martin H. Eastburn
> @ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
> "Our Republic and the Press will Rise or Fall Together": Joseph Pulitzer
> TSRA: Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
> NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Charter Founder
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