Snake Venom and What it Does to its Victims

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Depending on the species of snake, there are 5 types of venom that have been identified. Each venom acts differently inside the body of the victim:

• Neurotoxic venom - Cobras and Mambas - attacks the central nervous system, and starts to affect movement, breathing, swallowing, speech and sight.
• Haematoxic venom - Boomslang - affects the blood by using up the clotting factors so it no longer coagulates leading to extensive blood loss into the tissues.
• Cytotoxic venom - Puff Adders - attacks the body cells or tissues, this bite is extremely painful, with much swelling and marked symptoms of shock.
• Myotoxic venom - sea snakes - attacks the muscles and can lead to death from kidney and heart failure.