Page 11 - Jan-Mar 2019

VOL. 16 No. 1
What’s Your Poison? WHY AM i nOt

VenOMOuS?
Venom injected through snake bite affects the body and either How is snake venom
paralyses or kills the prey, depending on the toxicity, amount different from human
of venom and the kind of prey. saliva? Research and find
details of the composition
VenOM POWer of both.
Snake venom is a complex mixture of
toxins, proteins and enzymes which tHe Big Bite
is produced by a pair of modified
salivary glands, in the ‘cheeks’ of the The amount of
head of a venomous snake. Venoms venom injected by
vary in strength and toxicity. There a snake determines
are majorly three types of venom – the severity of a bite.
• Hematoxic - It affects the blood Illustration by: A. S The most important thing
and destroys tissues. Linghadharinee, VIII B, to remember for a snake
Angappa Educational Trust bite is that it has only one
• Neurotoxic - It attacks the Senior Secondary School, treatment – anti-venom
nervous system and paralyses Coimbatore medications available at Illustration by: Divyanshi Singh, VII E,
the victim and shuts down vital functions. hospitals and clinics. Suditi Global Academy, Etawah
• Myotoxic - It affects muscle function and can cause S. Sarausma, VII, Sri Seshaas International Public School, Salem
kidney damage.
The cobra’s bite is deadly but some species of cobra also nOn-POiSOnOuS POiSOnOuS
spit or spray venom at their victims. BODy
ROuND WIDTH
Khushi sharma, iX C, Dundlod Vidyapeeth, Jhunjhunu; C.V. NOSTRIL HEAD EquAL TO TRIANGuLAR
Madhangeashwar, Vii lotus, Cauvery Public school, Karaikal HEAD NOSTRIL HEAD

Non-Threatening
Venom is actually a powerful LARGE
digestive enzyme, which SMALL HOLLOW
is useful as snakes don’t TEETH FANGS
BODy
have chewing or tearing teeth. Out of Illustration by: Divyanshi NARROWER
these not all are dangerous because – Singh, VII E, Suditi Global THAN HEAD
• Either their venom is too mild or Academy, Etawah
injected in very small quantities.
• Their mouths are too small to bite humans. SCALES ON uNDERSIDE OF TAIL
NORMALLy IN A DOuBLE ROW
• Their jaws are too weak to break human skin.
• Their teeth are placed too far back in the mouth to SCALES ON uNDERSIDE OF TAIL
NORMALLy IN A SINGLE ROW
bite humans. Illustration by: Sanjay G.P, VI B, Sri Sankara Sr. Sec. School, Chennai

FigHting tHe FAngS
DO’s DON’T’s
Learn to identify the common four venomous snakes in Don’t place your hands and feet at places you can’t see or
India. walk barefoot in the dark.
Use a torch while stepping out in the dark. Don’t bother or try to kill/hit a snake.
If bitten, try and remember the colour and shape of the Don’t panic if bitten. Not all venomous bites are fatal.
snake.
Cover the bitten area with a clean and dry dressing. Don’t attempt to suck the venom out of the bite.
Locate the nearest source of antivenin. Don’t try to treat the bites with magic and spells.
anjali sharma, iX a, happy hours school, Jodhpur

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20