Editing Venom (section)

==Evolution==
{{Further|Evolution of snake venom}}

The use of venom across a wide variety of [[Taxon|taxa]] is an example of [[convergent evolution]]. In animals, venom usage has evolved independently for at least 104 times, across 8 phyla (body plans).<ref name=Hayes/> It is difficult to conclude exactly how this trait came to be so intensely widespread and diversified. The multigene families that encode the toxins of venomous animals are [[natural selection|actively selected]], creating more diverse toxins with specific functions. 

Also, a number of animal species have been demonstrated to acquire venom toxins from other sources, notably from associated microbes, which may even inhabit their venom apparatuses<ref>{{Cite journal |last=De León |first=Marina E. |last2=Fox |first2=Eduardo G. P. |last3=Dunaj |first3=Sara |last4=Jenner |first4=Ronald A. |last5=Keiser |first5=Carl N. |last6=Macrander |first6=Jason |last7=Nixon |first7=Samantha A. |last8=Nobile |first8=Clarissa J. |last9=Petras |first9=Daniel |last10=Rodriguez-Roman |first10=Eduardo |last11=Saviola |first11=Anthony J. |last12=Trim |first12=Steven A. |last13=Varona |first13=Natascha S. |last14=Yeager |first14=Justin |last15=Ul-Hasan |first15=Sabah |date=2025-01-01 |title=A review of the venom microbiome and its utility in ecology and evolution including future directions for emerging research |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13199-024-01031-0 |journal=Symbiosis |language=en |volume=95 |issue=1 |pages=3–27 |doi=10.1007/s13199-024-01031-0 |issn=1878-7665}}</ref>. 

Venoms adapt to their environment and victims, evolving to become maximally efficient on a [[predator]]'s particular prey (particularly the precise [[ion channel]]s within the prey). Consequently, some venoms may become specialized to an animal's standard diet.<ref>{{cite journal  |last1=Kordiš |first1=D. |last2=Gubenšek |first2=F. |year=2000 |title=Adaptive evolution of animal toxin multigene families |journal=Gene |volume=261 |issue=1 |pages=43–52 |doi=10.1016/s0378-1119(00)00490-x |pmid=11164036 }}</ref>