London Zoo: Poisonous or venomous — what’s the difference?

Animals that are poisonous and animals that are venomous are using toxic chemicals in different ways. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.

Poisonous animals deliver toxins in a passive way, either by being ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through mucous membranes or through cuts in the skin. In contrast, venomous animals actively inject toxins by using specialized structures such as stingers, spines, or fangs. Basically, if you bite an animal and you get sick, that animal is poisonous, but if it bites (or stings) you and you get sick, that animal is venomous.