(August 28, 2016 at 4:15 pm)Arkilogue Wrote:(August 28, 2016 at 2:43 pm)Yoo Wrote: Hi everyone! This is my first thread on this site, and I'm starting small.Heard an interesting take on NPR from an evolutionary biologist. She said some developed highly potency toxin, which put them ahead of their predators, and then was re-purposed by their body as a means of subduing prey.
I just had a thought today, thinking about venomous animals.
Why is the venom of some animals, like certain kinds of spiders and scorpions, strong enough to kill even a human?
Surely they don't need venom that strong for their prey, which is not much bigger than mice I'd say, so that can't be the reason. I find it hard to believe that it's for self defence, because the venom doesn't kill or weaken the threatening predator fast enough for it not to be able to kill its prey.
Maybe these sorts of questions shouldn't be on here, because they're too specific, but I'm curious and maybe some of you find this interesting as well.
(English isn't my first language so don't kill me for getting words wrong 'n stuff)
That's interesting as well! That reminds me of another question I had once, I'm going to put it in the thread-intro.
Yoo