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314

venomous (quokk.au)

submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I was only aware of a platypus. Is it all administered through some barb like appendage on the legs? Which one shoots venom missiles?

[–] phdepressed 20 points 1 week ago (3 children)

The loris and the solenodon have toxic saliva. The rat is controversial as it slathers chewed up poison dart tree on itself so hairs absorb it but it doesn't produce venom/poison itself. Not sure of any "venom missiles" from mammals.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

That's because everyone who has been close enough to see the venom-missile-shooting tenrec hasnt lived to talk about it (there's a tenrec for every occasion)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Are the toxins in the saliva a product of bacteria (as it happens with komodo dragons) or do the mammals themselves produce the toxins?

[–] phdepressed 5 points 1 week ago

Solenodons have a modified salivary gland and a sort of channel for the venom, related fossils show full on hollow teeth similar a snake.

The slow loris mixes their sweat with their saliva(both saliva and sweat are toxic).

However in both cases I'm not sure about the molecular details of toxin production. E.g. whether the loris or solenodon just carry certain bacteria that make the toxin or whether they produce from their own cells.

[–] hangyor 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I think it was shown komodo dragons do produce their own venom as well as having bacteria ridden mouths

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I had always heard this but recently I saw a video by Real Science (i think) on youtube/nebula that was discussing the debate about this topic. I can link the youtube video if you would like.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Damn rats are smart.