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poison gland

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poison gland [′pȯizĀ·ən ‚gland]
(vertebrate zoology)
Any of various specialized glands in certain fishes and amphibians which secrete poisonous mucuslike substances.

Poison gland

The specialized gland of certain fishes, as well as the granular glands and some mucous glands of many aquatic and terrestrial Amphibia. The poison glands of fishes are simple or slightly branched acinous structures which use the holocrine method of secreting a mucuslike substance. The poison glands of snakes are modified oral or salivary glands. Amphibian glands are simple, acinous, holocrine, with granular secretion. In some cases these amphibian poison glands produce mucus by a merocrine method of secretion. These glands function as protective devices. See Gland



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Enlightenment may come from years of dedicated training, a moment of grace, or an infusion of the neurotransmitter 5-MeO-DMT, found in all mammals, many plants, and the poison glands of a toad.
The toad's two large poison glands can kill a predator within 15 minutes of an attempted attack on the toad.
They have specialized poison glands in their tails that make them undesirable to most predators.
 
 
 
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