1. Venom Historical and Modern Uses Presented by Erin Hill

2. Basilisk Greek Origin Possible distortion of cobra or asp Giant serpent or serpentine rooster Immensely venomous!

3. Overview Venomous Creatures Ancient Uses Science Modern Uses

4. Venomous Creatures

5. Insects Wasps Sting is similar to bees’ Not fatal, but painful, swollen bites Termites Explosive chemical warfare! Some soldiers can “self-detonate” to take out enemies Centipedes Females more poisonous than males Ants Possibly fatal in allergic persons

6. Ant Bee Termite Scolopendra (technically not an insect)

7. Arachnids Black Widow Bite is rarely fatal Spider is generally non-aggressive Brown Recluse Fatal bites are rare Tarantula Again, rarely fatal Scorpions 1050 species dangerous to humans

8. Brown Recluse Black WidowScorpion Tarantula

9. Marine Jellyfish Tentacles armed with nematocysts Lionfish Immediate pain from sharp spines Stingray Few fatalities Result from a tail impact to chest area Cone Shell Highly toxic snails

10. Cone Shells Lionfish Stingray Jellyfish

11. Amphibians Poison Arrow/Dart Frogs Famous for vibrant colors and toxicity Gather toxins from digested insects Salamanders Like frogs, secretes poison through skin NOT a danger to humans

12. Poison Arrow/Dart Frogs

13. Reptiles Gila Monster Bite hard and HANG ON Rattlesnake Not as highly toxic as cobras VERY aggressive nature Coral Snake Follow red-yellow-black color pattern Sea Snake Closely related to cobras

14. Coral Snake Rattlesnake Sea Snake Gila Monster

15. Mammals Soricidae Related to moles Poison flows through front teeth during biting Platypus One of two oviparous mammals Males possess sharp, poisonous spurs on their inner hind legs

16. Platypus Soricidae (detail of Platypus spur)

17. Ancient Uses

18. Healing and Religion Ants Were used to treat skin diseases 2000 years ago New Guinea: sutures! Native American: Honeypot Ants Africa: Nile tribes used them to cure neurological disorders Bury patients in a formicary (ant-farm)

19. Narcotics Spanish Fly Actually a type of beetle Popular ingredient in aphrodisiacs Produces an itching sensation to exposed skin

20. Weapons Ants American Tropics: allow Army Ants to “march” through homes to clear out pests Sea Cucumbers South Pacific: toxic entrails used to poison fish Poison Dart Frogs South America: true to their common names, are still used to coat darts and arrows for hunting and warfare

21. Science

22. What’s Inside Stingers Scorpions, Insects With insects, stinging mechanism is usually ripped out after one attack Fangs Snakes, Spiders Toxin in injected directly into the blood –Often causes no damage externally or when ingested

23. Nematocysts Jellyfish Whip-like stinging cell Spines/Spurs/Barbs Lionfish, Stingray Poisoning by contact with sharp surfaces Other Frogs, Salamanders External excretion Cone Shell Stinging radula (tongue)

24. Snake Skull with Hollow Fangs Jellyfish with Nematocysts Sea Scorpion with Poison Spine

25. How They Work Most stings/bites from poisonous animals are not life threatening Many animals attack only when there in no other option Health is compromised if: Very young or very old Sick, immunodeficient, or severely allergic Amount of toxin ingested/applied Strike contacts chest or face

26. Dermatonecrotic Causes lesions and burning to exposed tissues Example: Box Jellyfish Neurotoxin Cause paralysis or respiratory system, cardiac system Example: Cone Shell Must be injected or ingested

27. Modern Uses

28. Bees! Apitherapy Refers to the use of honeybee (O.Apidae) venom for medicinal purposes Melittin: very potent anti-inflammatory Apamin: enhances nerve transmission Dopamine: neurotransmitter similar to adrenaline Seratonin: emotion-regulating neurotransmitter

29. Current Applications Relieve arthritis and asthma Relief from acute conditions like tendonitis and chronic conditions like back/neck pains Can be used to soften and break down scar tissue Future Applications Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis –Prolonged treatment time, but better overall results In this case, the usual symptoms of reaction (itching, swelling, etc.) are the desired effect Bee venom is used directly from the source Bees, handled by experienced keepers, are allowed to sting the patient locally Storing the venom decreases the potency

30. Poison Arrow Frogs Batrachotoxin One of the strongest animal toxins A single drop interferes with nerve impulse transmission Heart may stop functioning Some frog-eating snakes are immune What makes their system different? Before the heart stops, it is thrown into hypercontraction Small amounts could be used as a cardiac stimulant after a heart attack

31. Sea Cucumber Holothurin Blocks nerve impulses Many side effects: Prevents tumor growth Regulates heart rate Improves metabolism Provides glycosides –Cardiac varieties increase force of heart contractions

32. Scorpions Giant Israeli Scorpion Peptide Chlorotoxin can be isolated from the venom Only attaches to cancerous cells When paired with a chemotheraputic agent (samporin), makes a drug that targets and attacks only cancerous cells

33. Snakes Some venoms can be used in small doses to prevent blood clots Snake Milking A relatively harmless way to extract snake’s venom Snake is coaxed to “bite” glass bowl/jar lid Collected venom is used to make “anti-venom” to treat snake bites

34. Milking a Snake Applying Anti-venom to a Bite

35. (Most) Photos and Information Courtesy of: “Poisonous Plants and Animals” Team C007974, ThinkQuest 2000. http://library.thinkquest.org/C007974/