However, we do NOT recommend drinking venom! The venom gland is a modified salivary gland, and is located just behind and below the eye. The size of the venom gland depends on the size of the snake - this image shows the approximate size of the venom gland in relation to the skull of this Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus. In a study comparing snake venoms, researchers milked the largest amount of venom from an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus --more than from any other species they studied.
A comparative study found that the snake venom that is most toxic to mice of the species tested is that of the Inland Taipan Oxyuranus microlepidotus , found in Australia. The most toxic venom of U. It is important to note that these venoms were only tested on mice.
While these tests provide valuable ecological information about venomous snakes that eat mice and other small mammals, it may not accurately reflect how toxic they are to humans. The world's deadliest snake is probably the Saw-scaled Viper Echis carinatus , because it causes the most documented deaths. However, many of these deaths are likely due to lack of medical care. Venom delivery is voluntary -- snakes squeeze their venom blands with muscles to deliver venom.
For venom to kill you, it must be injected in your soft tissue or bloodstream. This is exactly what a poisonous snake does.
However, the situation is different when someone drinks snake venom. Since the venom is largely proteins and polypeptides, it gets broken into simpler substances inside our stomach.
Our saliva, stomach acids and other enzymes work quickly to convert venom into digestible compounds. Some of it will be excreted, just like any other indigestible food item. So, going by this logic, you will be safe if you drink snake venom. Krisp; CC BY 3. Poison is a toxin that gets into the body via swallowing, inhaling or absorption through the skin.
A cane toad, which secretes toxins from glands on each shoulder, is a poisonous animal. It has to be ingested or licked to cause harm. Poison ivy is an example of a poisonous plant—touching it can result in an itchy and sometimes painful rash.
But if you decided to drink the venom, the story would take a different turn. Snake venom is not the same as poison. The protein-based toxins of snake venom need to get into your bloodstream to cause substantial damage. If you swallowed it, your stomach acids and digestive enzymes would likely break it.
It could be as if you never took a sip. Wait, put the snake down. Drinking a shot of venom might not give you the same painful results as pouring it on your open wound. Some could still make its way through your digestive system and into your bloodstream.
From there, it could go wrong very quickly. Remember how I said there were different types of snake venom? This could lead to reduced eye movement, droopy eyelids and difficulty talking, swallowing and breathing. It could take weeks for your nerves to repair. And it would leave you unable to breathe without external support. If you drank enough of this venom to disrupt the chemical signals sent between your neurons, it would leave you paralyzed.
It could even kill you. If this venom made it into your bloodstream, it would primarily impact your blood and heart. This could lead to serious internal bleeding. Or it could cause blood cells to lump together, causing blockages and heart failure. This type of venom can be found in snakes like vipers, rattlesnakes and more. Mycotoxins present in this type of venom could significantly damage your muscle cells or cause necrosis.
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