Poisonous or venomous?
Which sentences are correct?
- Rattlesnakes are poisonous.
- Rattlesnakes are venomous.
- Mushrooms can be poisonous.
- Mushrooms can be venomous.
- Poison dart frogs are poisonous.
- Poison dart frogs are venomous.
- Antifreeze is poisonous.
- Antifreeze is venomous.
- Black widow spiders are poisonous.
- Black widow spiders are venomous.
The correct sentences are B, C, E, G, and J.
Why?
Rattlesnakes and black widow spiders inject toxins into their prey. Rattlesnakes and black widow spiders are venomous.
Poison dart frogs have toxins in their skin as a defense against predation. Poison dart frogs are poisonous. Their bright colors serve as a “try it, and you’ll be sorry” warning to potential predators. That’s fair, right? More than fair, I’d say.
Interestingly, when the native tribes of Central and South America use the toxins of poison dart frogs to coat their blow darts and arrows, the poison then functions as venom that is injected into the prey.
Mushrooms produce toxins for the same reason as the frogs—to prevent being eaten. Mushrooms can be poisonous.
Antifreeze is a liquid—and toxic when ingested. Antifreeze is poisonous.
Here is the salient question to ask when deciding on the appropriate term: “Did it bite you, or did you bite it?”
If it bites you and you die, it’s venomous. If you bite it and you die, it’s poisonous. You’ll be dead either way—but at least you’ll know what killed you!
