Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The difference between venom and poison was discussed at this board:
The QWERTY Cafe
http://www.voy.com/109245/

Problem is, one guy just doesn't get it and I don't know how to explain it to him. I don't keep hots myself. He's brought it up several times so I hope somebody here can educate all of us on whether or not snakes are venomous or poisonous. TIA

Here's his latest comment:
http://www.voy.com/109245/14520.html
Direct link to "poison" comment

The short answer is that venomous snakes are not poisonous. You could eat one and it wouldn't hurt you a bit. Venom is not poisonous. You can drink snake venom and it will have no affect on you as long as it does not get into your blood stream (bleeding gums, ulcer or other open wound inside your body). Venom is made of proteins, mostly, and is not poisonous.
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"Seek first to understand, then to be understood"

The following is a paragraph from page 93 of Janis A. Roze's
"Coral Snakes of the Americas"

Before we proceed to deal with venoms, let us agree on a terminology. In biology, medicine, toxinology, and everyday life a diversity of definitions and concepts are used for distinguishing venoms, poisons, toxins, and other noxious substances. Terminology in frequent use in biology and medicine defines venom as a complex, noxious substance produced by a living organism that is introduced into another organism by means of biting, stinging, scratching, or similar means. Thus, snakes have venom, and in English we speak of venomous snakes. The term poison is used for all noxious substances, whether or not produced by living organisms, that in order to produce their effect must be eaten, drunk, or inhaled. By this definition, it is not appropriate to say "poisonous coral snakes," even though the expression is used quite frequently in common language. Toxins are any noxious substances produced by living organisms that affect and dirupt the functioning of another organism. Thus, venoms and poisons are toxins. One such toxin that forms part of coral snake venom is the coral snake neurotoxin (CNTX); a simple component of the venom can also be called a toxin.

~~Greg~~
Florida's Venomous Snakes

I'd say that about removes all doubt about the difference between "venom" and "poison"..... thanks for the expanded explanation, Greg.

Tom

>>The following is a paragraph from page 93 of Janis A. Roze's
>>"Coral Snakes of the Americas"
>>
>>Before we proceed to deal with venoms, let us agree on a terminology. In biology, medicine, toxinology, and everyday life a diversity of definitions and concepts are used for distinguishing venoms, poisons, toxins, and other noxious substances. Terminology in frequent use in biology and medicine defines venom as a complex, noxious substance produced by a living organism that is introduced into another organism by means of biting, stinging, scratching, or similar means. Thus, snakes have venom, and in English we speak of venomous snakes. The term poison is used for all noxious substances, whether or not produced by living organisms, that in order to produce their effect must be eaten, drunk, or inhaled. By this definition, it is not appropriate to say "poisonous coral snakes," even though the expression is used quite frequently in common language. Toxins are any noxious substances produced by living organisms that affect and dirupt the functioning of another organism. Thus, venoms and poisons are toxins. One such toxin that forms part of coral snake venom is the coral snake neurotoxin (CNTX); a simple component of the venom can also be called a toxin.
>>
>> ~~Greg~~
>>Florida's Venomous Snakes
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"Seek first to understand, then to be understood"

for your post at The QWERTY Cafe. Its a voice in the wilderness though. I think some people just prefer their ignorance over learning anything new.

OTOH, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe its just not very important.

I posted what I thought was an interesting link to the 10 deadliest snakes in the world. They are just using it to say that "poisonous" is a synonym of "venom".

Oh well.
The QWERTY Cafe