How does a rattlesnake get their venom?

Answer 1

Their poison is a fluid stored in venom glands in the back of their mouth that will automatically refill itself - so they basically make it themselves.

Some snakes, however, like the Tiger Snake, can sequester the toxins from the animals that they eat. Tiger Snakes sequester bufadienolide compounds from the toxic toads they eat. When they are found in an environment without these toads, however, they lack the toad's toxic bufadienolide compounds completely.

The mother snake can pass these toxin to young, in the egg, and confer a degree of protection to their young.

Additionally, the snakes that eat toads seem to know they have an additional degree of defense. They will stand and defend their territory. Snakes on a nearby island, lacking bufadienologenous toads, lack these compounds, lay eggs, bearing young, also lacking bufadienolide compounds completely. These snakes tend to flee when challenged.

Its unusual for animals to sequester defensive toxins. Poison Darts Frogs, and Mantella Frogs from Madagascar eat ants possessing an alkaloid the frog sequesters in its skin, that confers defensive abilities. Garter snakes are known to sequester tetrodotoxin from poisonous newts in it's diet, and birds in New Guinea sequester toxins from the insects they eat.

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Answer 2

They make it - inside their bodies. Snake venom is modified saliva - and is manufactured in two small venom 'sacs' - on either side of the snake's head. Each sac has a tube which leads to the snake's venom fang. When the snake bites (usually its prey) - the sacs contract, squeezing venom down the tube and out of the tip of the fang.

Answer 3

They secrete it from glands in their skull. Snake venom is modified saliva.

Answer 4

Snakes store their venom in a 'sac' located on each side of the mouth in their upper jaw.

Answer 5

Snake poison is stored in venom sacs located in the skull.

Answer 6

Snake venom is stored in glands in the skull. A narrow tube leads from the gland (or duct) to the fangs.

Answer 7

Snakes to not have poison but some do have venom. It is produced and stored in glands towards the back and top of the head and behind the eyes.

Answer 8

they basically make their own poison on the back of their mouth so the poison can refill itself

Answer 9

to make the story short the snake makes its own poison on the back of their mouth