What Is the Difference between Poisonous
and Venomous Animals?

Venoms and poisons are both substances that can do harm. “Venom,” however, is generally a more specific term, referring to substances produced by specialized tissues and introduced by means of a venom apparatus.

A viper, for example, produces venom in glands in its head and injects the venom through its hollow fangs. Animals that are poisonous but not venomous can be harmful when ingested (the fish called puffers, for instance, are especially dangerous in this regard), touched (blister beetles), or both (certain frogs and toads).