Is an animal venomous or poisonous? Most people make the mistake of calling any animal with toxic potential poisonous. But what is the difference? Simply put, and what I always say in my presentations,”If I bite you and you die, I’m venomous. If you bite me and you die, I’m poisonous.” Now granted that is a gross oversimplification. But it gets the point across. Venom and poison can be delivered in multiple ways; not just from a bite – delivered or received. Let’s learn the more advanced differences between them both.

Venom

Venom, aka zootoxin, is a type of toxin which is delivered by an animal via a sting, bite, or other means, from a wound or by contact (in the case of a spitting cobra). The method in which venom is delivered can be from a stinger or fangs. This process is called envenomation.

There are both terrestrial (land) and marine (saltwater or freshwater environments) creatures, which have evolved to deliver venom. Invertebrates and vertebrates, predators and prey of select types have evolved to pack quite a punch, if disturbed. Necrotoxins and cytotoxins (those that kill cells); neurotoxins (that affect the nervous system); myotoxins (that damage muscles); and haemotoxins (that interfere with the clotting factors of blood) are all currently known types of venom.

In a strange twist of fate, certain toxins, found in various venom types, have been used to treat arthritis, certain cancers, thrombosis, and more ailments. Venomics is the study of proteins found within venom that can potentially be used for medicinal applications.

It is uncertain how some animals evolved the ability to deliver venom and others have not. This is a topic of discussion and study, to this day. The multigene families which encode these various toxins of venomous animals are actively selected, and create more diverse toxins with specific functions. The venoms also have evolved, over time, to deliver maximum effect on specific prey as well.

The list of known venomous animals comprises reptiles, various terrestrial and marine invertebrates (from cone snails to arachnids), Cnidarians (jellyfish), and even mammals.

Poison

In nature, there are many forms of poisons. With respect to this site, we will talk of poison as it relates to animals. Poison is delivered to a recipient via specialized and passive means. Typically taste or touch is the method in which an animal is approached and thus the transfer of poison takes place. An animal that is considered poisonous uses this toxin as a self defense method, to avoid being another animal’s meal.

Contact with these poisons can result in illness, injury, or even death. Some poisons enter through the skin, while still others can be ingested, some have to enter into the bloodstream to take effect.

The list of poisonous animals consists of amphibians and arthropods.