Interesting Fact: To date there are roughly 3400 known different species of snakes around the world of which 375 species are poisonous.
These snakes are poisonous due to the toxic venom they possess: Hemotoxic, Neurotoxic, Cytotoxic, Proteolysis, and Myotoxic.
Hemotoxic venom attacks the cardiovascular system and circulatory system. It starts to disrupt blood clotting mechanism, destroys red blood cells and causes tissue damage, ultimately resulting in heart failure if not treated. Hemotoxic also leads to traumatic damage to the area where bitten. When the venom comes in contact with the blood, the blood will start to thicken and the person may die due to internal bleeding, if the antivenom is not provided.
As the name implies, neurotoxic venom attacks the nervous system and the brain. The nerve impulses sent between the brain and muscles will be blocked due to degeneration of synaptic nerves. If left untreated, the ultimate outcome will be respiratory failure. Symptoms include shortness of breath, difficulties swallowing, slurred speech, dizziness, sweating, paralysis, and drooling.
Cytotoxic venom attacks the area where bitten. It tends to destroy the cell, tissue, and blood vessels. Symptoms include bleeding of the area, swelling, nausea, vomiting, severe pain, and bluish discoloration of the skin due to limited blood circulation. These symptoms usually start to appear 10-15 minutes after being bitten. In the worse case scenario, the bitten area will require amputation of not treated promptly.
Proteolysis venom is a protein degrading venom which attacks proteins to breakdown to amino acids or smaller polypeptides. Symptoms include pain, swelling, blood loss, and disruption of blood clotting system.
Myotoxic venom is known to result in muscular necrosis. This is due to the venom having peptides that destroy muscle fiber proteins. Symptoms include thirst, locked jaw, dry throat, muscle spams, drooping of the eyelids, and loss of breath.
Snakes and their distinctive venom:
These snakes are poisonous due to the toxic venom they possess: Hemotoxic, Neurotoxic, Cytotoxic, Proteolysis, and Myotoxic.
- Hemotoxic
Hemotoxic venom attacks the cardiovascular system and circulatory system. It starts to disrupt blood clotting mechanism, destroys red blood cells and causes tissue damage, ultimately resulting in heart failure if not treated. Hemotoxic also leads to traumatic damage to the area where bitten. When the venom comes in contact with the blood, the blood will start to thicken and the person may die due to internal bleeding, if the antivenom is not provided.
- Neurotoxic
As the name implies, neurotoxic venom attacks the nervous system and the brain. The nerve impulses sent between the brain and muscles will be blocked due to degeneration of synaptic nerves. If left untreated, the ultimate outcome will be respiratory failure. Symptoms include shortness of breath, difficulties swallowing, slurred speech, dizziness, sweating, paralysis, and drooling.
- Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic venom attacks the area where bitten. It tends to destroy the cell, tissue, and blood vessels. Symptoms include bleeding of the area, swelling, nausea, vomiting, severe pain, and bluish discoloration of the skin due to limited blood circulation. These symptoms usually start to appear 10-15 minutes after being bitten. In the worse case scenario, the bitten area will require amputation of not treated promptly.
- Proteolysis
Proteolysis venom is a protein degrading venom which attacks proteins to breakdown to amino acids or smaller polypeptides. Symptoms include pain, swelling, blood loss, and disruption of blood clotting system.
- Myotoxic
Myotoxic venom is known to result in muscular necrosis. This is due to the venom having peptides that destroy muscle fiber proteins. Symptoms include thirst, locked jaw, dry throat, muscle spams, drooping of the eyelids, and loss of breath.
Snakes and their distinctive venom:
Hemotoxic
- Cotton Mouth - All Rattlesnakes (except Mojave) - Boomslang - Gaboon Viper - Bushmaster |
Neurotoxic
- Mojave Rattlesnake - Cobras - Black Mamba -Tiapans - Death Adder - Tiger Snake - Blue Krait - Eastern Brown Snake - Coral Snake |
Cytotoxic
- Puff Adders |
Proteolysis
- Vipers |
Myotoxic
- Lancehead Snake - Sea Snake |
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The video on the left shows you what a viper's bite will do to your blood. Just one drop of the hemoxtoxin does severe damage to the blood.
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