Qs on venomous animals and their venom

Q: Can scorpion bites kill people?

Krishna: Yes!  In typical cases, scorpion stings usually result in pain, paresthesia [an abnormal sensation, typically tingling or pricking (‘pins and needles’), caused chiefly by pressure on or damage to peripheral nerves.],  and variable swelling. In serious cases, scorpion stings may involve the envenomation of humans by toxic scorpions, which may result in extreme pain, serious illness, or even death depending on the toxicity of the venom.

Most scorpion stings range in severity from minor swelling to medically significant lesions, with only a few able to cause severe allergic, neurotic or necrotic reactions. However, scorpion stings account for approximately 3,000 deaths a year worldwide (1)

Footnotes: 

1. Chippaux, Jean-Philippe (July 5, 2012). "Emerging options for the management of scorpion stings". Drug Design, Development and Therapy. 6: 165–73. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S24754. ISSN 1177-8881. PMC 3401053. PMID 22826633.

Q: Can centipede bites kill people?

Krishna: Centipede bites are a fairly rare occurrence, and their bites are typically not considered life-threatening; this is likely due to the shy nature of centipedes and their preference for nocturnal activity. Further, while centipedes are very effective killers of their prey, the majority of centipedes are too small for their bites to cause significant morbidity to humans.

However, The centipede species known as Scolopendra subspinipes is one particular species that is known for causing extremely painful sensations after transmitting venom. This centipede species is commonly referred to as the giant centipede. This centipede has been known to cause fatalities, but these outcomes are quite uncommon.

Scientists have identified a nasty toxin in centipede venom that wreaks havoc on the cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems of other animals—allowing centipedes to kill mice 15 times their size in 30 seconds flat (3).

They purified multiple toxins from the venom of the 20-centimeter-long golden head centipede, which lives in forests, farmlands, and cities across eastern Asia. Then, they experimented with the toxins, one by one. They found that something called Ssm Spooky Toxin shut off the channels that pump potassium in and out of cells—channels that are critical for sending brainwaves, maintaining a regular heartbeat, and controlling a whole host of other bodily functions, the team reports in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Without this one critical toxin, the venom isn't nearly as deadly—giving scientists hope that an antivenom treatment could be made using drugs that open potassium channels.

There are some "unconfirmed" reports like these... (2) 

Several years ago, a young man was nearly killed after sustaining a giant centipede bite on his finger. Surprisingly, the victim was a twenty two year old man who had been in good health. He had no history of cardiac or circulatory issues. Despite the absence of cardiac risk factors, the man nevertheless suffered a heart attack that doctors believe was precipitated by the venomous centipede bite. Another victim living in Arizona developed rhabdomyolysis after sustaining a bite from a giant centipede. Rhabdomyolysis is a type of acute kidney injury, that leads to unpleasant symptoms. These symptoms include localized pain, swelling, numbness and discoloration in a person’s limbs. Although the bite victim lived, she had suffered neurological damage that still affects her coordination today. Several deaths resulting from giant centipede bites have been reported, but only one fatality has been confirmed. In the Philippines during the summer of 1932, a young girl sustained a venomous giant centipede bite to the head. She quickly fell ill and died shortly afterwards.

Footnotes: 

2. https://www.johnnybpestcontrol.com/2019/01/08/the-most-dangerous-ce...

3. https://www.science.org/content/article/giant-centipedes-can-kill-p...

Q: What are some venomous animals whose venom can kill people?

Krishna: Jelly fish, some spiders, stone fish, and of course snakes.

There are other animals whose venom can cause severe distress but not fatal to humans. Like short tailed shrew, gila monster, duck billed platypus , some lizards, cat fish, sting rays, lion fish, snail, loris, octopus, and mole. 

Q: What is the difference between poison and venom?
Krishna: 

Venom is a very special type of poison that has to be injected into the bloodstream via sting or bite to be effective.

Poison is effective whether it is inhaled, swallowed, or even if it’s absorbed through the skin (by touching a poisonous frog, for example). An animal can be both poisonous and venomous, but this is quite uncommon.

Q: Is mongoose immune to venom?

Krishna: No, mongooses are not immune to snake venom. Mongoose can fight venomous snakes and can tolerate a certain (small) amount of snake venom. But they will die if they get bitten too much and get too much venom in their systems.

Q: How can a mongoose eat a venomous snake?

Krishna: Mongooses can eat venomous snakes because the venom doesn’t enter their bloodstream. Theoretically, we could also eat a venomous snake and survive. Theoretically.

To be effective, venom must enter the bloodstream (different than poison). So, if you were bitten by a venomous snake, you could be in some serious trouble.

But if you ate one, you might not have such a hard time; if you had an exceptionally strong stomach and gut lining and absolutely no cuts, nicks, or scrapes inside your mouth or throat.

Q: What happens if a venomous snake bites another snake of the same species?

Krihsna: 

If a venomous snake is bitten by another venomous snake of the same species, (for example during a fight or mating), then it will not be affected.

However, if a snake is bitten by a venomous snake of another species, it probably will be affected.

This is probably because snakes have evolved to be immune to venom from their own species, because bites from mates or rivals of the same species probably happen fairly often.

But a snake being regularly bitten by another snake from a different species? It’s unlikely that would happen very often, so snakes haven’t really had a chance to develop immunity to venom from other species.

 Scientists have found that special digestive chemicals in the stomachs of most vertebrates (animals with backbones) break down snake venom very quickly. So the snake’s stomach can quickly deal with the venom in the animal it just ate before it has a chance to harm the snake.

People that have snakes as pets often see this. If one venomous snake bites a mouse and injects venom into it, for example, you can then feed that same dead mouse to another snake. The second snake won’t die.

Some snakes can inject their toxins into their prey, which makes them venomous. However, there seem to be a couple of snake species that eat frogs and can store the toxins from the frogs in their body. This makes them poisonous if the snake’s body is eaten. Over time, many other animals will have learned that it is not safe to eat those snakes, so this trick helps keep them safe.