The Vitals of Venom
David A. Wooten
Bio Dept., Washtenaw Community College
Venom
http://www.mzephotos.com/gallery/spiders.html
Poisonous Animals
Poison Dart Frogs • Poisonous due to batrachotoxins found
in skin
Phyllobates terribilis
Pitohui • Poisonous due to batrachotoxins found
on feathers and skin
• Rhabdophis tigrinus – Japan (Yamakagashi)
– passed onto offspring!!!
African Crested Rat (Lophiomys imhausi)
• poisonous mammal
• toxins from tree bark; rubs into fur
• perforated hairs absorb poisonous saliva!
Solenodon paradoxus
Hemotoxin Neurotoxin Myotoxin Cardiotoxin Combinations
VENOM SUBUNITS
Hemotoxin Neurotoxin
VENOM
Historical Perspective...
Modern Understanding...
Accessory Glands
Function of venom...
• incapacitate prey
• locate prey
• pre-digestion
• defense
• reproduction?
Emerald Jewel Wasp (Ampulex compressa)
Why not everyone?
milked
unmilked
Irukandji (Carukia barnesi)
Conus • conotoxins block
Ca+2, Na+, K+
channels
• hundreds of
peptides unique
to each sp.!
Hymenoptera Venom
Scorpion Venom
(Lace Weaver Spider)
(Sydney Funnel-Web)
(House Spider)
(Tarantula)
(Wolf Spider)
Heloderma
Accessory Gland
Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)
Venom Ontogeny
The Venom “Cure”
*appreciation is given to the Great Lakes Zoological Society and the associated World of Discovery Center (Ann Arbor), as well as
Kensington Nature Center (Milford) for providing live specimens
