What is the significance of hemotoxins in terms of their effect on large animals?

Hemotoxins are significant because they specifically target the components of the blood, including red blood cells, blood vessels, and the coagulation system. In large animals, the impact of hemotoxins can be quite severe, as they can lead to significant blood loss, organ dysfunction, and ultimately, death. When hemotoxins disrupt normal blood function, the consequences can be more pronounced in larger species due to their greater blood volume and system complexity. This can make hemotoxins more lethal than neurotoxins, which primarily interfere with nerve function.

While neurotoxins can cause paralysis and other severe complications, their effects can sometimes be less immediately fatal compared to the critical damage that hemotoxins can inflict on the cardiovascular system of larger animals. Therefore, in terms of potential lethality and the nature of their effects on these organisms, hemotoxins indeed hold a significant place in the study of toxicology and the defense mechanisms of certain species that possess them.