Ecological importance of snake venoms

Snake venoms play a crucial role in ecosystems by regulating prey populations, which helps maintain balance in food webs. By controlling the numbers of rodents and other small animals, snakes contribute to the health of their habitats. Additionally, venoms contain unique proteins and enzymes that have inspired medical research, leading to breakthroughs in treatments for conditions like heart disease and blood pressure regulation. Therefore, snake venoms not only affect ecological dynamics but also offer significant benefits to human health and science. Maintaining biodiversity, including snakes, is vital for sustaining these ecological and medical contributions.