Thesaurer Thursday

 Toxin,Venom and Poison

Toxin, I have talked about earlier, is an antigenic poisonous substance that is produced within the living cells e.g., bee sting venom. In this post we will see the difference between toxin, venom and poison.

Toxins are produced in the living cells, and venoms are toxins that are injected by a bite or sting to cause their effect. Poison is a substance which is chemically and biologically produced but absorbed through the epithelial lining of the gut or skin.

It is seen that there are certain venomous animals and there are others that are called poisonous animals but not venomous. What is the difference between a venomous and a poisonous animal?

Well, it all depends on how the the biologically produced poisonous thing or the toxin is delivered. If the toxin  is injected in the vein of the animal by the other animal which produces it and resorts to the aggression for self defence, it is called a venom. But if the harm is caused upon eating or touching anything of plant or animal origin, the plant or animal is called poisonous.

Examples of Poisonous Animals. Wikipedia