Venomous vs Poisonous Animals

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people ask if a snake is poisonous. The answer will always be "No" because snakes are venomous not poisonous.

Toxin is any substance that can cause harm. Venom is a toxin that causes its effect through administration via a specialized delivery system. Poison is a toxin that causes its effect through ingestion or absorption.

Venomous animals store toxins internally and release them through biting or stinging in order to disable their victims. Venomous animals use toxins to help them capture prey. Poisonous animals will secrete toxins through their skin so that whatever creature bites or touches them is poisoned. Poisonous animals use toxins to defend themselves.

Understand? Or confused?

Venom is injected, Poison is ingested. If a snake bites you and you get sick, it is venomous. If you bite a frog and you get sick, it is poisonous.

So please, please, please stop calling snakes poisonous.

Terrible Dart Frog - most toxic vertebrate in the world

Poison dart frogs are not poisonous in captivity. They do not produce their own poisons, but get the chemicals from what they eat in the wild. Because of this, captive animals do not contain significant levels of toxins.