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PoisOrVen?

Short answer: Poison and venom are both toxins, but they're delivered differently. Venom is injected through a bite, sting or spine, as when a snake uses its fangs.

A poison works when it's eaten, inhaled or absorbed, for example through the skin. Poison dart frogs (family Dendrobatidae) are poisonous: their skin secretes alkaloid toxins that can harm a predator that touches or eats them. Wild frogs build those toxins from their diet. The footage shows warning symbols, a snake bite demonstration on a hand, snakes and poison dart frogs, with the presenter.

VideoWrite-up2 sources
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What should you know about PoisOrVen??

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Venom is injected.

    DD-097-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Venom is injected)

  2. Poison is eaten, inhaled or absorbed.

    DD-097-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit C (Poison is absorbed)

Video transcript: PoisOrVen?: Bite It and Die: Poisonous. It Bites You: Venomous

The distinction between poison and venom lies in the method of delivery. DID YOU KNOW? Poison is harmful when it is absorbed, ingested, or inhaled. While venom must be injected into the bloodstream. If YOU BITE IT and you die, it's poisonous. If IT BITES YOU and you die it's venomous. So, a snake is venomous because it injects venom into its prey or potential threat through fangs, while a poison dart frog is poisonous because its skin secretes toxins that can be harmful if touched or ingested. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 26.0s Reel ·

Video coming soonPoisOrVen? · Instagram Reel
PoisOrVen?: Bite It and Die: Poisonous. It Bites You: Venomous Instagram Reel · · 26.0s

The write-up

Bite it and die: poisonous. It bites you: venomous. The difference is how the toxin gets delivered.

  1. Exhibit A

    Delivery matters

    Poison and venom differ in how they're delivered.

  2. Exhibit B

    Venom is injected

    Venom is injected by a bite, sting or spine.

  3. Exhibit C

    Poison is absorbed

    A poison is eaten, inhaled or absorbed.

  4. Exhibit D

    Snakes

    Venomous snakes inject venom through fangs.

  5. Exhibit E

    Dart frogs

    Poison dart frogs secrete toxins from their skin.

Questions people ask about PoisOrVen?

What separates poison from venom?

Injected or absorbed.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Delivery matters) · Wikipedia: Venom

How is venom delivered?

It's injected.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Venom is injected) · Wikipedia: Venom

How does a poison work?

Through skin, gut or lungs.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Poison is absorbed) · Wikipedia: Venom

How do venomous snakes deliver venom?

Some can spit, but fangs are the norm.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Snakes) · Wikipedia: Venom

Where do dart frogs carry their toxins?

That makes them poisonous.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Dart frogs) · Wikipedia: Poison dart frog

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What separates poison from venom?

    1. How it's delivered
    2. Its color
    3. Its smell
    4. Its age
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. How it's delivered Injected or absorbed. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Delivery matters) · Wikipedia: Venom

  2. How is venom delivered?

    1. Bite, sting or spine
    2. Only by eating
    3. By smell
    4. By sound
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Bite, sting or spine It's injected. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Venom is injected) · Wikipedia: Venom

  3. How does a poison work?

    1. It's eaten, inhaled or absorbed
    2. It's injected
    3. Only by bite
    4. It doesn't
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. It's eaten, inhaled or absorbed Through skin, gut or lungs. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Poison is absorbed) · Wikipedia: Venom

  4. How do venomous snakes deliver venom?

    1. Through fangs
    2. Through skin
    3. Through scales
    4. By spitting only
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Through fangs Some can spit, but fangs are the norm. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Snakes) · Wikipedia: Venom

  5. Where do dart frogs carry their toxins?

    1. In their skin
    2. In fangs
    3. In stingers
    4. In their tails
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. In their skin That makes them poisonous. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Dart frogs) · Wikipedia: Poison dart frog

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "PoisOrVen?." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-097, last updated Nov 28, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/poisorven/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/poisorven/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-097-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/poisorven/#DD-097-F01