Which chemical classes are present in the venom cocktail of the Equatorial Spitting Cobra?
Answer
Neurotoxins, cardiotoxins, and cytotoxins.
The defensive venom employed by the *Naja sumatrana* is a complex biological substance designed to incapacitate threats quickly. This cocktail contains several key classes of toxic proteins. Specifically, it includes postsynaptic neurotoxins, which interfere with nerve signaling; cardiotoxins, which specifically target heart tissue; and cytotoxins, which cause localized damage to cells and tissues at the site of entry or contact. While these components are similar to other Asiatic spitting cobras, the precise protein structure distinguishes *N. sumatrana* venom from its close relatives like *N. sputatrix*.
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