venymätön

Venymätön is a Finnish word that translates to "venomless" or "non-venomous" in English. It is primarily used to describe animals, most commonly snakes, that do not possess venom glands or fangs for injecting venom. The term is an adjective and is formed by adding the suffix "-tön" (meaning without or -less) to the noun "myrkky" (meaning poison or venom).

The classification of a snake as venymätön is crucial for understanding its potential danger to humans. While many non-venomous snakes can bite, their bites are generally not medically significant beyond localized pain and potential infection, unlike those of venomous species which can cause systemic toxicity. Examples of venymätön snakes in Finland include the grass snake (R materialis) and the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca). It's important to note that even non-venomous animals can bite defensively if threatened, and caution should always be exercised when encountering wildlife. The term can also be applied to other creatures or substances, though its most common application is in zoology.