Venom

[3Way-Steve]

hey, just wondering...

does anyone have any knowlage of venom, about different toxins that snakes have and how they attack the body?

btw - just watched Austin Stevens on Animal planet, got me all excited about venomous snakes lol

cheers,
Steve

[carl24bpool]

try here:

Snake venom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[serpentkid100]

there are different types obviously...

venom is just evolved salivia, which has loads of advanced enzymes which help it kill its prey fast, as well as start off the digestion process...

there is the type that clots blood, basicly clots it and the animal has a heart attack, there is the type that digests the prey, search rattle snake bite on google and you will see it happening, have fun

[DaveM]

there are neurotoxins that affect nerve impulses (I think) and stop the heart, brain and lung functions, then some that cause muscle damage, as in muscle mass is lost, can' remember what type of animal posseses that type of venom though, and spider venom digests their prey to a soup almost

[JBJcool]

the 1 venom im gd at and its posted neurotoxin but theres all sorts i know some snakes and spiders if you get biten you can end up loosing limbs coz it dessolves all teh skin and nerves
painful i reckon

[PendleHog]

Talking very roughly and simplistically there are three "types" of venom:

Neurotoxins - causing neurological symptoms which may include paralysis
Haemotoxins - causing symptoms such as haemorrhage and haemolysis
Myotoxins -Damage muscle tissue including myocardium - may not cause immediate symptoms

The venoms of particular snakes are no longer classified in this way however as they are too complex to classify so simply.