Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So one of pet peeves is when people talk about poisonous snakes, I have been known to yell at the TV! So my husband (late last night after drinking) decided to be a smart a$$ and try to get me to define venom vs. poison, like in the saliva of a komodo id say it’s a poison, but the way I’ve always described poison is something ingested versus injected, and that’s in the skin, so what is it… ect, we went on like this for a while until I told him id ask here for a better definition of poison vs. venom. I also brought up that venom would come from a venom gland and other things would be poisons…any help to get back at him would be helpful! Thanks!
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

Poison will kill if ingested or injected. Venom is made up of modified saliva which is mostly different proteins and as you can see my friend,Albert Killian on you-tube, you can drink it with no harm done.

Proteins may also be poisons, ricin for example. In general, venoms are poisonous secretions of reptiles, scorpions, spiders, insects, etc which are (usually) injected via some naturally evolved apparatus - teeth, stinger, etc. Poisons are substances which may cause injury, illness or death especially via chemical means. Poisons may be ingested, absorbed or inhaled, they may also be injected. Venoms are a subset of the term poisons. While it may be worthy of a debate at times, it is generally a semantic argument.

What does a spitting cobra produce when it sprays secretions at a threat? It is not injected, but I think it would still be considered venom...

Your husband hasn't learned the first law of happy marriages - the wife is always right....always! I learned that 17 years ago and have been happily married ever since then. BUT, I will also say that your husband should listen to you - although a bit more complicated, you actually described the difference very well. Nice job.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center

>>So one of pet peeves is when people talk about poisonous snakes, I have been known to yell at the TV! So my husband (late last night after drinking) decided to be a smart a$$ and try to get me to define venom vs. poison, like in the saliva of a komodo id say it’s a poison, but the way I’ve always described poison is something ingested versus injected, and that’s in the skin, so what is it… ect, we went on like this for a while until I told him id ask here for a better definition of poison vs. venom. I also brought up that venom would come from a venom gland and other things would be poisons…any help to get back at him would be helpful! Thanks!
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>>hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Personally, I am glad that you asked this question. I am a professor of biology and this comes up all the time, even amongst the professors. You have been given the correct information here, but if I may put in my two cents?

A venom is produced by a gland. A poison is a chemical that does bodily harm. So, venom is a poison but not all poisons are venom. So, to say that a rattlesnake is poisonous and venomous are both correct. I am sitting here thinking to myself, I know of many poisonous plants but I know of none that are venomous. It appears that venom is produced only by members of the Kingdom Animalia.

I never said that a poison can't be a protein.To the dictionary. "Poison, a substance causing illness or death when eaten, drunk or absorbed even in relatively in small quantities"
"Venom, the poison secreted by some snakes,spiders,insects,ect.introduced into the body of a victim by bite or sting.
This is what I said.Venom doesn't kill when swallowed.

After reading the dictionary version of venom, it is clear that venom is a poison that can kill in only 1 or 2 out of the 3 possible ways that it can be administered. I say 3 possible ways because inhaling and swallowing are both ways to take it internally. Some poisons don't vaporize, such as lead. Also venom is only produced by a living thing.

Why are you getting defensive? Lichanura said it perfectly well and didn't denounce anything you said. Man, folks on this forum get so touchy on things. I personally think he hit it on the head (along with another person posting on this thread) - it really comes down to semantics in many cases. Even though I prefer to call rattlesnakes, for example, "venomous", you can also call them "poisonous" - both are correct but "venomous" is probably a more detailed description as to the mode of operation of how they use that "poison". Unless you are going to give someone a Venom 101 lecture, either term can be used and its not really something to get our skirts all bunched up over.

>>I never said that a poison can't be a protein.To the dictionary. "Poison, a substance causing illness or death when eaten, drunk or absorbed even in relatively in small quantities"
>>"Venom, the poison secreted by some snakes,spiders,insects,ect.introduced into the body of a victim by bite or sting.
>>This is what I said.Venom doesn't kill when swallowed.
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

I didn't feel defensive when I made the post, maybe it read that way to you.Sorry you took it that way. The only point I was trying to make is the one I made in my 1st post and that is that poison will cause harm if swallowed and venom won't. And after looking in the dictionary, it appears that that is the only difference.

Wikipedia has a venomous plant called the"Stinging Nettle" it injects the poison.

didnt think id start all this, but its been good for my brain!!!
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

"like in the saliva of a komodo id say it’s a poison"

I wouldn't call it poisonous, but rather an infective agent. Komodo saliva is known to have 40 or 50 different bacteria in it which infect at a very fast rate.
Humans also have infective bacteria in their saliva. If you've ever seen a bad human bite, you'll understand. But, I'd never consider calling us venomous or poisonous. When many antigens enter our systems, they COULD be termed a poison. Just like when sepsis occurs when appendix burst and it poisons our systems, lead, or chemicals that bioaccumulate in various organs and eventually poison us.
I guesss it's how you want to look at it. Some would say alcohol is poison. I would say it's delicious.