I am a biological research major, and I am speaking strictley from a scientific definition here but there is a huge difference in the words, venomous, poisonous, and toxic.

Poisons by zoological definition basically have to be ingested. We can all agree they are not poisonous, no argument there.

Venom has to be delivered subcutaneously through structures designed specifically for the task of envenomation. A venomous animal uses "poison" to inject target prey animals or as self defense, because there is no way to get the target to ingest their poison safely or effectively, it is delivered through fangs, stinger etc in the form of venom. Grooved fangs do not count as the delivery system isnt actually through the fangs. Venomous is a very specific word which relates to the way the poison is delivered

A toxin on the other hand is more of a general term. One in which hognose fall into. The word toxin is basically any kind of poisonous substance derived from a living organism that induces antibody formation.

Being that hog do have glands, and the toxins are delivered through the gums via grooved fangs then hognose fit into the broader category of toxic not into the very specific category or venomous.

Sorry guys I just dont like how easily the three terms get interchanged in the herp community.

Will

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