Toxins of Animals) [Biological-Origin Toxins]
4: Zootoxins (toxins of animals) [Biological-origin toxins]
Distinction should be made between poisonous animals – those with toxins in their skin or other organs and which are toxic on ingestion – and venomous animals – those with specialised structures for production and delivery of toxins (venoms) to prey species or adversaries.
Halstead (1988) published a monumental review of poisonous and venomous marine animals. A world list of snake venoms and other animal toxins including bee venoms, sawfly toxins, amphibian and fish toxins has been compiled by Theakston & Kamiguti (2002).
Animals acquire toxins by one of three methods (Mebs 2001): • expression of genes coding for the toxin structures • metabolic synthesis (production of secondary metabolites) • uptake, storage and sequestration of toxins produced by other organisms (microbes, plants, or other animals) References: Halstead BW (1988) Poisonous and Venomous Marine Animals of the World. 2nd revised edition. The Darwin Press Inc., Princeton, New Jersey. Mebs D (2001) Toxicity in animals. Trends in evolution? Toxicon 39:87-96. Theakston RDG , Kamiguti AS (2002) A list of animal toxins and some other natural products with biological activity. Toxicon 40:579-651.
PROTOZOA (PROTISTA) - DINOFLAGELLATES See Marine Microalgal (Dinoflagellate & Diatom) Toxins
ARTHROPODS - INSECTS