A common pet-peeve among snake enthusiasts is when folks refer to venomous snakes as “poisonous” when, in fact, only a handful of species are actually “poisonous.” I’ll explain…
“Poison” is a toxin that must be INGESTED/eaten, so if you eat it and it makes you sick, then the animal is “poisonous.” Many amphibians, like frogs & salamanders, are “poisonous.”
“Venom” is a toxin that must be INJECTED directly into the body to work, so if it stings or bites you and makes you sick, then the animal is “venomous.” Rattlesnakes, for example, are venomous, but not poisonous.
HOWEVER, this distinction only really exists in English. In most other languages, it’s the same word for both, so the error doesn’t bother me much. 😁
