Reptile & Amphibian Forums

is a venomous snake poisonous?

There is not a snake in the world you cannot cook & eat.

Poison is a substance that taken internally or used topically will cause harm to you.

Venom is a substance created by an animal that must enter the bloodstream to do its damage.

That's the short answer. ~~Greg~~

Shorter answer:
Poison is injested
Venom is injected.

Randal Berry

no.
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It's what you learn AFTER you know it all that counts!

Terry Phillip
Curator of Reptiles
Black Hills Reptile Gardens
Rapid City, SD.

www.reptilegardens.com

I do Educational Reptile Programs for a living and I am constantly asked if the snake I am holding or exhibiting is poisonous. My responce to them is "No, you can eat them"! This usually gets me some odd stares to which I explain. It's hard to teach this to older folks.
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Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
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Conservation through Education

I aint anybody in the hot world, but I do know that many injectable medications, if ingested will still be effective, albet, slower, and higher doses are needed for the same effect to account for the many more variables withen the digestive tract.

Does this not apply to snake venom if the gland is eaten? Is it considered a poison or venom if it's absorbed by the mucous membranes prior to intestinal absorption?

Just look'n for a bit of the long answer so I aint so dumb any more

Ian

now you have me curious about that as well....that's, to my knowledge, what the mongoose does after it crushes a cobra's skull...anyone know?

Reference: Coral Snakes of the Americas by Janis Roze 1996.

"In biology, medicine, toxinology, and everyday life a diversity of definitions and concepts are used for distinguishing venoms, poisons, 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 expresion is used quite frequently in common language. Toxins are any noxious substances that produced by living organisms that afect and disrupt the functioning of another organism. Thus, venoms and poisons are toxins."

That, gentlemen, is the long answer. ~~Greg~~

I prefer the term toxin over the terms poison and venom. Simply because venom from a snake can be absorbed through the skin (spitting cobras), much like that of a dart frog, however, effects won't quite be the same as if it were injected.

To my knowledge a venom is injected, and a poison is secreted. Thus you have poisonous plants and animals that secrete their toxins (ie. amphibians). I'm not sure about the claim of it must be injested to be considered poisonous, rather it is the mechanism with which the toxin is delivered that determines whether it is a venom or a poison. Hope that helps.
Jason

so venom and poison can describe the same toxin depending on how it's come across. Sounds kinda like common names versus latin names... where's Dr. Frey; we should start using using scientifically approved nomenclature for all this crap

Ian

I could be mistooken, but cobra venom..be it from a spitter or any other..can be absorbed into the bloodstream through the eyes, but not through the skin.

~~Greg~~

Greg, That is a good counterexample, but the spitting cobra is still injecting its venom in a way, but I don't know I'm curious about that one. Ian, I don't know if certain neurotoxins that amphibians secrete are close to the neurotoxic venoms that elapids have, but if they are then yes the same toxin could be considered a poison and a venom depending on the way it is delivered.
Jason