Venom

Venom is a type of toxin made by an animal. It is delivered through a bite, sting, or similar action using special parts like fangs or a stinger. This process is called envenomation. Unlike poison, which can be absorbed through the skin or eaten, venom is injected into another creature.

Venom is found in many different animals, both on land and in water. This includes predators and invertebrates. These toxins can work in several ways, such as affecting nerves or muscles.

Scientists study venoms because they can help treat medical conditions like thrombosis, arthritis, and some cancers. Research in venomics is looking for more ways that these toxins might help improve human health.

Evolution

Further information: Evolution of snake venom

Venom is found in many animals, showing how similar traits can appear in unrelated species. This is called convergent evolution. Venom has evolved many times in different animals. The genes that create these toxins are specially chosen, resulting in many types of venom with different purposes.

Some animals can get venom toxins from tiny organisms, like microbes, that live in their venom organs. Venoms change over time to work better against the animals they usually hunt.

Mechanisms

Main article: Toxin

Venoms are made up of many toxins that can affect the body in different ways. One type is neurotoxins, which mainly impact the nervous system. They are found in animals like mambas, black widow spiders, scorpions, box jellyfish, cone snails, centipedes, and blue-ringed octopuses. Another type is myotoxins, which damage muscles. They are present in snake and lizard venoms, such as that of rattlesnakes. Cytotoxins are toxins that kill individual cells. They are found in the venom of honey bees and black widow spiders.

Taxonomic range

Venom is found in many animals, both insects and vertebrates, living in water and on land. Some spiders, like spiders, use fangs to inject venom, while scorpions and bees use stingers. Even some fish, like stingrays and sharks, have venom.

Some snakes, such as the prairie rattlesnake, produce venom in special glands and deliver it through fangs. Other venomous animals include the Mexican beaded lizard, gila monster, and even some mammals like vampire bats and platypuses. Venom helps these animals catch prey or defend themselves.

Venom and humans

Venoms from animals like snakes and Gila monsters are being studied to help treat diseases. Scientists have looked at many papers to see how these venoms might be used in medicine.

In healthcare, proteins from snake venom help treat conditions such as thrombosis, arthritis, and some cancers. The venom of the Gila monster has a substance called exenatide, which helps people with type 2 diabetes. Compounds from fire ant venom are also being studied for treating diseases like cancer and psoriasis. A field called venomics looks at the proteins in venoms to find new medical uses.

Main article: Envenomation

Resistance

Further information: Antipredator adaptations

The California ground squirrel can resist the Northern Pacific rattlesnake’s venom. Many animals use venom to catch food. Over time, their prey have learned to resist this venom. This is called a chemical arms race.

The kingsnakes of the Americas can eat venomous snakes without getting hurt. In the ocean, eels can resist the venom of sea snakes. Clownfish live among the tentacles of venomous sea anemones and are protected by special mucus.

Non-animal venoms

Venoms are not only found in animals. Many different living things can produce and deliver toxins. For example, certain bacteria, like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have special systems that can inject harmful substances into other cells. Stinging plants also deliver toxins to affect their targets, and some fungi can release toxins that harm cells. Even some tiny organisms called protists have special structures to inject toxins into their prey.