Venom vs. Poison?

Question

I see lots of people that still use the terms venom and poison incorrectly. I will award 10 points to the person who gives me a description of these two different toxins closest to my own definitions of them. Im not looking for internet references, I want just the simplest descriptions of function for each.
Good luck!

Answer 1

A venom is a toxin used specifically and purposefully for hunting, defense, etc., while a poison is simply present in the animal and used passively, such as when another animal touches or eats the poison animal.

Answer 2

Venom refers to secreted toxins which are actively delivered by the animal in question; e.g., toxins delivered by specialized grooved or hollow teeth or spines coupled with the toxin gland and duct. Poison, on the other hand, is delivered passively, by absorption over the gut, skin, or respiratory tissues without the used of specialized delivery organs.

Answer 3

Well I usually think of Poison as something that is used as a defense externally on a plant or animal to discourage predation, or is just part of the internal makeup of the animal or plant that also discourages perdation. I think of venom as something that is used as a defense or means of killing and has to be injected through a bite or sting, in order to take effect. I usually think of Vemon as an aggressive defense/predation mechanism. While I think of Poison as a passive defense mechanism. you can really see the difference when you look at a poisonous frog compared to a venomous snake. The frog is only poison so that nothing wants to eat it but the snake is venomous so that it can effectively kill its prey and defend itself.

Answer 4

Venomous, refers to animals who inject venom into their prey or as a self-defence mechanism while the organism is still alive.

Poisonous, on the other hand, refers to plants or animals that are harmful when consumed or touched.

One bird species the hooded pitohui, although not venomous, is poisonous, secreting a neurotoxin on to its skin and feathers, as do the primates called slow lorises.

Answer 5

venom is enzyme based, designed to break down a specific biological function (i.e. cytotoxins, neurotoxins etc...). Also it is generally injected into an organism, though is sometimes absorbed (spitting cobra-eyes and mucous membranes)

Poison is more chemically based, and is rather broadly defined. Anything can be "poisonous" if enough of it is present to screw up the processes of an organism.

Don't you hate it when people say "poisonous snakes?" ugh...

If you haven't, check out http://www.venomdoc.com/ it's really interesting.

Answer 6

To me, venom is something secreted by an animal of some sort, usually injected when biting. And a poison is something that although not necessarily synthetic, usually is, or at least man refined from some other natural state, and used specifically to kill.
-Duo

Answer 7

I think its a matter of intent.

A venomous person or animal intend to harm you.

A poisonous plant or animal do it passively. ie you eat or touch it.

Of course a person might poison someone deliberately, but that would be the person. The substance would not have intent, so it would only be poisonous.

Answer 8

venom- A poisonous secretion of an animal, such as a snake, spider, or scorpion, usually transmitted by a bite or sting.

poison- A substance that causes injury, illness, or death, especially by chemical means.
Something destructive or fatal.

Answer 9

Both are biological toxins.

Venom is injected (via fangs from a snake bite or a "sting" from a scorpion); whereas poison is absorbed (through the gut after ingestion or absorbed through the skin after contact).

Answer 10

Venom, is any one of many naturally created toxic enzyme mixtures that are secreted in predatory, or defensive situations by many animals.

Poison, can be either a man made chemical, toxic to the human body, or a secretion found in plants that is toxic to the human body.