The Vitals of Venom

The Vitals
of
Venom
David A. Wooten
Bio Dept., Washtenaw
Community College
[email protected]
Venom
Poisonous Animals
Poison Dart Frogs
Phyllobates terribilis
• Poisonous due to
batrachotoxins found
in skin
Pitohui
• Poisonous due to
batrachotoxins found
on feathers and skin
• Rhabdophis tigrinus
– Japan (Yamakagashi)
– passed onto offspring!!!
African Crested Rat (Lophiomys imhausi)
• poisonous mammal
• toxins from tree
bark; rubs into fur
• perforated hairs
absorb poisonous
saliva!
Solenodon paradoxus
Historical Perspective...
VENOM
Hemotoxin
Neurotoxin
Modern Understanding...
Hemotoxin
Neurotoxin
VENOM
SUBUNITS
Myotoxin
Cardiotoxin
Combinations
Accessory Glands
Function of venom...
• incapacitate prey
• locate prey
• pre-digestion
• defense
• reproduction?
Emerald Jewel Wasp
(Ampulex compressa)
Why not everyone?
milked
unmilked
Irukandji (Carukia barnesi)
Conus
• conotoxins block
Ca+2, Na+, K+
channels
• hundreds of
peptides unique
to each sp.!
Hymenoptera Venom
Scorpion Venom
(House Spider)
(Lace Weaver Spider)
(Sydney Funnel-Web)
(Wolf Spider)
(Tarantula)
Heloderma
Accessory Gland
Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)
Venom
Ontogeny
The Venom “Cure”
*appreciation is given to the Great Lakes
Zoological Society and the associated World
of Discovery Center (Ann Arbor), as well as
Kensington Nature Center (Milford) for
providing live specimens