The venom of some snakes is so toxic because it contains proteins and enzymes that act on the prey's nervous system, muscles, or blood clotting.
The venom of snakes is a very complex cocktail of toxic compounds. It mainly contains enzymes and toxic proteins, known as peptide toxins or enzymatic proteins, which act specifically on certain tissues or organs. Some venoms are more specialized in destroying blood cells or paralyzing the nervous system, while others primarily target muscles and blood vessels. Each species has a unique composition, a customized recipe resulting from millions of years of evolution and adapted to its favorite prey. This diversity allows each snake to "choose" its victims based on their weaknesses, whether it's a small mammal, a bird, or even other reptiles.
Venom is a real cocktail of proteins capable of quickly causing chaos in the body. Some toxins, known as neurotoxins, completely block the nervous system by preventing muscles from receiving information sent by the brain, leading to paralysis or rapid respiratory failure. Others, like hemotoxins, attack the blood and blood vessels: they destroy red blood cells or interfere with coagulation, resulting in bleeding and significant internal damage. Finally, some toxins called cytotoxins target tissues directly: they literally dissolve cells, causing localized necrosis, intense pain, and significant inflammation. In short, each toxin has a specific target, but they all act quickly and effectively to immobilize or kill their prey.
Snakes did not develop their venom just for show: it is primarily a matter of survival and efficacy. For millions of years, a true arms race has been playing out between snakes and their prey. The more prey evolve to resist, the more snakes must adapt their toxins to remain effective. This phenomenon is called co-evolution, a hellish duo where the adaptation of one drives the other’s adaptation ever further. Those that succeed in producing particularly potent venom efficiently capture their prey, survive better, and pass this biochemical superweapon on to the next generation. Over time, species with the most effective venoms dominate, thereby increasing the overall toxicity of certain snakes.
The toxicity of snake venom partly depends on the habitat in which they live: for example, in areas where prey is scarce and fast, snakes often develop a much more powerful venom capable of quickly immobilizing the victim. Similarly, competition between different species of snakes in the same area sometimes forces some to become more toxic to ensure their survival. Then there is diet: depending on whether they hunt mammals, birds, or amphibians, toxins evolve differently to be as effective as possible on their preferred prey. Finally, changes in temperature and climate also influence the composition and toxicity of the venom, varying its potency according to these external conditions.
In some sea snakes, venom not only serves to immobilize prey but also to aid digestion by starting to break down biological tissues upon injection, a crucial advantage in their resource-limited habitats.
The toxicity of a snake's venom depends not only on its chemical composition but also on how the venom is delivered: the size of the fangs, the amount injected, and the biting pressure all play an important role.
Some species of snakes, such as the African boomslang (Dispholidus typus), produce an extremely potent hemotoxic venom that can prevent the blood from clotting properly and thus cause major internal bleeding.
The Australian desert taipan has such toxic venom that theoretically a single bite could cause the death of several adult humans, although in reality, encounters with this snake are extremely rare and are avoided by the animal itself.
In case of a bite, it is important to remain calm and limit your movements as much as possible to slow the spread of venom. Immobilize the affected limb by keeping it below the level of the heart, and seek professional medical assistance immediately. Do not attempt to suck out the venom or apply a tourniquet, as this can make things worse.
Although there are certain criteria, such as the shape of the head or pupils, these characteristics are not always reliable. The best advice is to avoid any unidentified snake and to consider all snakes as potentially venomous unless advised otherwise by a local expert.
Sure! Here’s the translation: "Yes, the primary treatment for severe snake bites is the administration of a specific antivenom serum for the snake in question. In addition to this emergency treatment, optimal care includes managing associated symptoms and complications, such as respiratory or cardiovascular issues."
Snakes develop a highly toxic venom primarily to compensate for their modest size or the lack of other hunting or defensive weapons. This not only allows them to quickly neutralize their prey but also to protect themselves against potential threats in environments where competition for resources is intense.
Among the snakes with the most potent venoms are the inland taipan, the Belcher's sea snake, as well as certain cobras and vipers. Their venom is particularly toxic due to the highly effective neurotoxins and cytotoxins that are well adapted to their environment.
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