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The animal kingdom is populated by a vast variety of creatures whose main focus in life is to live to see tomorrow. To this end, many animals have developed chemical means of defense and/or food procurement. Every phylum within the animal kingdom contains species that produce poisons or venoms. Poisons are compounds produced in nonspecialized tissues as secondary products of metabolism that accumulate in the host animal or that accumulate in predators following ingestion of prey. In contrast, venoms are produced in specialized tissues or glands, and venomous animals have developed a variety of venom apparatuses to deliver their venom to target animals, a process termed envenomation . Compared to other means of injury or illness in animals, envenomation or poisoning from zootoxins is relatively a rare cause for the presentation of domestic animals to their veterinarians, due largely to the protection afforded by animal owners. Wildlife, on the other hand, probably faces potential exposure to zootoxins on a nearly daily basis. Bites and stings from arthropods and snakes certainly can occur in any species, and the potential for oral exposure to animals such as poisonous toads, snakes, or insects varies with the region and environment. |
