ABSTRACT
Though much attention has been paid to the existence of natural inhibitors of snake venoms, comparatively little work has been done to examine thoroughly the ecological and evolutionary relationships that produce such extraordinary resistance to venoms. Understanding venom resistance requires an understanding of the diverse ecological roles that venomous reptiles play in their ecosystems as well as the potential coevolutionary relationships that may be shaping the venom phenotype. This chapter reviews what is known about the role of venom in the ecology of venomous reptiles, gaps in our understanding of biotic drivers of venom evolution (namely, venomous snakes as prey items), and what is currently known about species that have resistance to venom. Finally, this work outlines future directions and new methodologies for examining the resistance phenotype and evaluating the potential for coevolutionary dynamics between venomous reptiles and resistant antagonists.
