Venomous Snake Bites: Why Do Some Survive and Others Don't?

• Venomous snakes often possess partial resistance to the venom of their own species, a trait developed over millions of years of evolution.
• This natural resistance involves antibodies and protein structures that neutralize their specific venom, making bites between the same species rarely fatal.
• For example, a cobra biting another cobra typically results in non-fatal outcomes like swelling or temporary weakness, not death.
• However, bites between different species are far more dangerous as resistance to one type of venom (e.g., neurotoxic) does not guarantee resistance to another (e.g., hemotoxic).
• King snakes are an exception, possessing extraordinary resistance to various venoms, allowing them to hunt other venomous snakes.

Why It Matters: Venomous snakes have evolved resistance to their own species' venom, but inter-species bites can be deadly.