Difference Between Poisonous and Venomous
Venomous means an animal injects toxins through a bite or sting (snakes, spiders, bees). Poisonous means toxins are absorbed through eating, touching, or inhaling (poison dart frogs, toxic mushrooms, poison ivy). Simple rule: if it bites you and you get sick, it is venomous. If you bite it and get sick, it is poisonous.
Key Takeaways
- Venom is actively delivered through specialized body parts.
- Technically, you should not say 'poisonous snake' - snakes are venomous.
- Poison ivy causes a reaction through contact with oils (urushiol), making it truly poisonous.
Explanation
Venom is actively delivered through specialized body parts. Snakes inject venom through fangs. Bees, wasps, and scorpions use stingers. Spiders have fangs. Some fish have venomous spines. The toxin is delivered directly into the victim's bloodstream or tissue, bypassing digestive defenses.
Poison is passively transferred - the victim must touch, eat, or inhale it. Poison dart frogs have toxic skin that must be touched or consumed. Poisonous mushrooms and plants must be eaten. The toxin enters through contact or digestion rather than injection.
A few animals are both. Some snakes are venomous (bite) and also become poisonous if eaten because they store toxins. The blue-ringed octopus is venomous (bite) but its flesh is also toxic to eat. These exceptions are rare.
Things to Know
- Technically, you should not say 'poisonous snake' - snakes are venomous. Though people commonly misuse the terms.
- Poison ivy causes a reaction through contact with oils (urushiol), making it truly poisonous.
- Some animals are toxic (contain toxins) without being either venomous or traditionally poisonous.