Some venoms are applied externally, especially to sensitive tissues such as the eyes, but most venoms are administered by piercing the skin of the victim. Venom in the saliva of the
Gila monster and some other reptiles enters prey through bites of grooved teeth. More commonly animals have specialized organs such as hollow teeth (
fangs) and tubular
stingers that penetrate the prey's skin, whereupon muscles attached to the attacker's venom reservoir squirt venom deep within the victim's body tissue. For example, the fangs of venomous snakes are connected to a venom gland by means of a duct. Large snakes administer more venom than smaller snakes. Snake envenomation events are usually classified as either predatory or defensive. Defensive envenomation injects much larger quantities of venom into the target, with 8.5 times greater flow rate and 10 times greater venom mass than predatory strikes. This is consistent with the need to quickly neutralize an attacker. Predatory strikes are different from defensive strikes: the snake strikes and envenomates the target, and then quickly releases it, preventing the target from damaging the snake. Once released, the target animal may withdraw but soon dies. Venom has a scent easily recognized by the snake that delivered it, allowing it to locate the prey's body. While not all snake species in every situation release their prey after envenomation, venom generally assists in finding bitten prey. Venomous snakes have been shown to be aware of the relative size of prey: juvenile
rattlesnakes were experimentally shown to have the ability to adapt the volume of venom they expelled based on prey size. Once experienced, the juvenile rattlesnakes consistently expelled more venom when attacking larger mice. This ability allows the snake to inject enough venom to kill the prey while conserving its venom supply. ==Diagnosis and treatment==