Venom vrs Poison

Emily from The Brain Scoop discusses the fascinating and terrifying world of venoms and poisons in animals and plants. These substances can range from causing minor discomfort to death, making them both intriguing and dangerous. The terms "venomous" and "poisonous" are often used interchangeably, but they are two different things. Toxins are substances created by living things that can harm other living things. If a toxin is actively injected into you by a bite or a sting, that organism is venomous. If you absorb the toxin by eating it, breathing it in, or rubbing it on your skin, then that organism is poisonous.

Some animals produce substances that are both venom and poison. For example, the spitting cobra sprays poison into your eyes, making it a poison. However, if it bites you, it injects the same liquid, making it a venom. Poisons are passive and generally used to defend against predators, while venom is active and can be used to ward off predators and hunt prey.

Emily discusses how some reptiles and amphibians have evolved toxins to defend themselves. For example, the cane toad produces a poison that is fatal to almost any animal that tries to eat it. However, the false water cobra has become resistant to the cane toad's poison over many generations. In response, cane toads began producing even more poison, causing the snake to develop more immunity.

The introduction of cane toads in Australia caused a massive die-off of many of Australia's native predators, including the shingle back skink. However, these lizards had an ally in their arms race against the cane toads in the form of a poisonous plant called mother of millions. Before the toads arrived, the blueys were eating mother of millions and getting poisoned. Not all of them died, and those who survived went on to breed, producing more poison-resistant skinks.

Emily also discusses venomous snakes, such as the king cobra, which needs to be immune to the venom of the snakes it eats. Snakes display visual cues that advertise their toxic nature, including warning coloration, rattles, and hoods. Humans are also in an evolutionary arms race with venomous snakes, as we have evolved better color vision and an eye for detail, while snakes have developed more potent venom and better camouflage to avoid detection.

While poisonous and venomous animals can be terrifying, they also provide us with life-saving medications made from molecules that would otherwise be deadly. The best-selling drug of all time is captopril, a heart failure and blood pressure medication made from Brazilian pit viper venom. Yew trees produce a poison that has been on the market as a cancer medication since the 90s. Emily reminds us to respect and appreciate not only these toxic animals but also the species that are co-evolving alongside them, including ourselves.

Here are 10 differences between venom and poison:

1. Delivery method: Venom is delivered through an organism's bite or sting, while poison is ingested or absorbed through the skin or mucous membranes.
2. Purpose: Venom is used for self-defense or hunting, while poison is used for defense only.
3. Production site: Venom is produced in specialized glands and delivered through specialized structures, while poison is produced by various parts of an organism's body.
4. Effect on the producer: Venom typically has little or no effect on the organism that produces it, while poison can be harmful or even deadly to the organism that produces it.
5. Effect on the target: Venom usually has an immediate effect on the target organism, while poison may take longer to take effect.
6. Chemical composition: Venom is typically a complex mixture of proteins and enzymes, while poison can be made up of a wide variety of chemicals.
7. Mode of action: Venom typically affects the nervous system, while poison can affect various systems in the body.
8. Symptoms: Venom usually causes local pain and swelling, while poison can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on the type of poison and the dose.
9. Treatment: Antivenom can be used to treat venomous bites and stings, while treatment for poisoning depends on the type of poison and the symptoms it causes.
10. Examples: Examples of venomous animals include snakes, spiders, scorpions, and bees, while examples of poisonous animals include poison dart frogs and certain types of fish and plants.