Most of these snakes are inoffensive or far too small to envenomate a person effectively.

The smaller male spider was thought to be unable to envenomate a human, although male bites have been reported.

Snakes which envenomate a prey animal may have to track the prey as it flees.

This action is therefore not as quick as with the viperids, that can envenomate with only a quick, stabbing motion.

The fangs are usually below the front edge of the eye and are angled backwards; due to this construction, most elapids must actually bite in order to envenomate.

In order to envenomate prey, an opisthoglyphous snake must move the prey into the rear of its mouth and then penetrate it with its fangs, presenting difficulties with large prey although they can quickly move smaller prey (or a human handler's finger) into position.

It actively pursues and forages for their prey and rather than envenomate its prey with an open mouth, they'll usually bite its prey sideways at short distances and often use constriction and suffocation techniques in addition to their venom to kill their prey.