Difference between Venomous and Poisonous

Key Difference: Venomous organisms have a special gland and part of the body such as fangs that is used to administer the toxin into the body of the victim. A poisonous creature, organism or plant do not have special glands to produce this toxin, it is produced by their normal body processes.

The terms ‘venomous’ and ‘poisonous’ are two words that are confusing for many people and are used interchangeably. However, these two terms are actually quite different from each other. Although, both the terms refer to a deadly toxic that can cause death to the person that comes into contact with it; the main difference lies in the way the toxin is administered to the victim.

Venom and poison are both toxins that can cause damage to the person whose body they are injected into. Venomous and poisonous are used to classify animals that can cause harm to their victim. These animals inject toxins into the body of their prey to either kill them or paralyze them, making it easier for them to slowly consume them. The classification is based on how the toxin is injected into the body.

Venomous organisms have a special gland and part of the body such as fangs that is used to administer the toxin into the body of the victim. These creatures have sharp fangs or stingers that are used to break the skin and inject the toxin directly into the victim’s blood stream. The fangs or stingers are attached to a special gland that is responsible for producing the toxin. Once the skin is broken, the toxin is directly pushed into the blood steam causing it to reach the heart faster. Venom is said to kill the victim faster as it is directly added into the blood stream, making it pass through the body faster.

A poisonous creature, organism or plant do not have special glands to produce this toxin, it is produced by their normal body processes. The toxin is either produced by the body in the form of a liquid sticky substance that can coat the body of the creature or their body may be made of the poisonous substance. However, it is crucial to remember what may be poisonous to humans may not be for another creature. The poison from the organism or the plant must be consumed or absorbed by the body. If it is eaten or drunk, it will first be processed by the stomach and then will be added to the blood streams. This results in poison killing the victim more slowly.

Venomous creatures include snakes, spiders, butterflies, centipedes, etc. Poisonous organisms include tree bugs, poisonous butterflies, frogs, Rhubarb laves, certain types of berries, etc.

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