Charles Norton Lisa Toelle Mammalian Venoms Charles Norton Lisa Toelle

Mammalian Venoms Of all the diversity of mammals, there are only a few species that exhibit toxicity. Although skunks and pangolins emit noxious fumes, they are left out of this report due to there lack of toxicity. They are, however, mild irritants.

Solenodons Cuban Solenodon Haitian Solenodon Solenodon cubanus Solenodon paradoxus

Solenodons Characteristics Resemble large shrews Nocturnal Burrowing Insectivores

Solenodon Venom Mechanism of Action Ecological Benefits Channel in second lower incisors to deliver venom Venomous saliva is delivered from a hollow duct, which is connected to modified submaxillary salival glands Ecological Benefits Defense Immobilization of prey

Sources for Solenodon Information Folinsbee, K.E, Muller, J. and Reisz, R.R. 2007. Canine grooves: morphology, function, and relevance to venom. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27(2):547–551. Zoological Society of London. Retrieved 3-10-09. http://www.edgeofexistence.org/conservation/solenodon.php The City College of New York. Retrieved 4-10-09. http://www.culturequest.us/cuba/animallife.htm

Slow Lorises Sunda Loris Bengal Slow Loris Pygmy Slow Loris Nycticebus coucang Bengal Slow Loris Nycticebus bengalensis Pygmy Slow Loris Nyciticebus pygmaeus

Slow Lorises Characteristics Only toxic primate Slow-moving quadrapedal Nocturnal Arboreal

Slow Lorises Venom Composition Mechanism of Action Ecological Benefits A protein very similar to cat dander Mechanism of Action Venom in saliva (from sebaceous glands near elbows) Suck toxin into their mouths for delivery Ecological Benefits Protection from enemies

Sources for Lorises Information Krane, S, Itagaki, Y, Nakanishi, K, Weldon, P.J. 2003. “Venom” of the slow loris: sequence similarityof prosimian skin gland protein and Fel d 1 cat allergen. Naturwissenschaften 90:60–62. Fry, B. Poisonous Primate?! Retrieved 3-16-2009. Venomdoc. http://www.kingsnake.com/toxinology/loris/slow_loris.html National Geographic. (2008). Retrieved 4-10-09. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/06/photogalleries/animal-pictures/ Nature. (2009). Animal Behavior: Slow Food. Retrieved 4-10-09. Nature. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v443/n7109/full/ 443248a.html

Shrews Northern Short Tailed Shrew Eurasian Water Shrew Blarina brevicauda Eurasian Water Shrew Neomys fodiens

Shrews Characteristics Small body Long nose Similar appearance to a mouse or rat

Shrews Venom Composition Soricidin Blarina - BLTX kallikrein-like protease capable of cleaving kinins

Shrews Mechanisms of Action Neurotoxic Paralytic properties in soricidin Hypotension due to blarina Protease activity

Shrew Toxin Mechanisms Neurotoxicity Paralysis Hypotension Venom Impairment of Target Organism

Shrews Ecological Benefits Helps immobilize prey Defense Bite is more toxic if pregnant Possible medicinal uses for human pain treatment

Sources for Shrew Information Kita M, Nakamura Y, Okumura Y, Ohdachi SD, Oba Y, Yoshikuni M, Kido H, Uemura D. Blarina toxin, a mammalian lethal venom from the short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda: Isolation and characterization. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2004 May 18;101(20):7542-7. Kita M, Nakamura Y, Okumura Y, Ohdachi SD, Oba Y, Yoshikuni M, Kido H, Uemura D. Purification and characterisation of blarinasin, a new tissue kallikrein-like protease from the short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda: comparative studies with blarina toxin. Biological Chemistry. February 2005, Vol. 386 Issue 2, p177-182 Gonthier, Gilles. (2009). Retrieved 4-10-09. http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/Mammal/Northern-Short-tailed-Shrew/Blarina/brevicauda.html Biology Department, Davidson College. (1999). Retrieved 4-10-09. http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/anphys/1999/Rachal/rachal2.htm

Platypus Characteristics: Ornithorhycnus anatinus Electro-sensitive Semi-aquatic Mostly nocturnal Only venomous mammal in Australia

Platypus Venom Composition Defensin-like proteins (three of which are unique to platypuses) Made in glands in the legs Evolved via gene duplication of immune system genes

Platypus Mechanisms of action: Leads to edema around the area of the wound and increases the victims sensitivity to pain. May also result in decreased blood pressure, respiratory distress, and slightly hemolytic Neurological effects Linked to decrease in pH leading to altered ion entry

Platypus Venom Venom Cardiovascular Neurological Local Edema Effects and Pain Venom Impairment of Target Organism

Platypus Spurs Delivered via spurs on hind limbs of males Only mammals to squirt venom (not mixed with saliva) Spur

Click on Hyperlink to View Video Platypus Video http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/nature/animals/mammals/up_close/video/ovt_platypus?size=16x9&bgc=273824&nbram=1&bbram=1 Click on Hyperlink to View Video

Platypus Ecological Benefits For dominance during mating season only found in males Defense Possible uses for medicinal research in pain in humans

Platypus Sources Geristen V. Platypus poison. Protein Spotlight: Issue 29, 2002. Plater G, Milburn P, Martin R. Venom From the Platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, Induces a Calcium-Dependent Current in Cultured Dorsal Root Ganglion Cells. J Neurophysiol 85:1340-1345, 2001. Luna Media Pty Ltd. (2007). Evolution of Platypus Venom Revealed. Retrieved 3-26-09. Cosmos Magazine. www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/1423/evolution-platypus-venom-revealed Fry, B. Platypus Venom. Retreived 3-16-2009. Venomdoc. www.kingsnake.com/toxinology/old/mammals/platypus

Summary Few mammals posses toxins The diverse mammalian clades possessing toxins suggest independent evolution. Toxins found in these mammals appear to be primarily for defensive purposes