Quote:
Originally Posted by xnomad
Can I just be a little pedantic? Certain snakes aren't poisonous, they are venomous.
Poisonous means if you eat it or touch it, you will suffer a toxic reaction. Venomous is the correct term as you aren't going to eat the snake, the snake bites you. Venomous means injection of toxins via a bite or a sting.
If some snakes were only 'poisonous' that would be great, as I don't plan on eating any, or picking them up.
I cringe whenever I hear 'posionous snake/spider' etc, even the media get it wrong all the time.
|
Fair comment indeed.. Near on every snake is venomous to some degree, its a matter of whether that venom is dangerous to us or not. Eastern Bearded Dragon lizard produce the same neurotoxin as a rattlesnake. However they are unable to get that neurotoxin into our blood stream, so they are "Safe" to handle etc.. The neurotoxin is produced in their saliva glands, and is is quite effective at immobilizing their prey. But as they have a hard time breaking our skin, and even when they do, they rarely chew on us, producing the toxic saliva, we are largely unaware of their venomousity and as such, people do not fear them.. Most monitor lizards are venomous too.. You do not want to suffer a bite from an adult water monitor, or worse, a large lace monitor..