snake/spider venom

[pheret <pheret@pheret.com>]

i have a question about the evolution of toxins in snakes and spiders.  it
seems that most of them have a venom that is way too strong for the prey
they kill.

do u think that creatures that r no longer around had a different
tolerance for the venom?  i know insects are much the same, but i am
assuming that snakes probably preyed on dinosaurs, etc., before mammals.
i wonder if they were harder to kill?  anyway, just wondering aloud.
anybody studying this?  i have read about the venom canals that appear in
a certain dinosaur's teeth but i have no idea which one (it has been
mentioned here before).

thanks for any info!

pheret

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