Like fine wine, snake venom takes on different characteristics depending on the geographic location it comes from. Researchers working in Costa Rica found that the chemical makeup of venom in a particular species was different for populations found on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. They also discovered that – again, like fine wine – age is a factor. The venom from newborn snakes was substantially different than the venom from older snakes.
These new findings could lead to more effective antivenins, which are used to treat snakebites in humans.
(Source: LiveScience)
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