DID YOU KNOW...

• Snake’s scales are made up of something called Keratin, which is the same thing that our fingernails are made from.
    
• Mother Pythons will coil themselves around their eggs and make their bodies shiver in order to heat herself up and keep her eggs warm until they hatch.
    
• The biggest snake is the Reticulated Python. It can grow up to 10.05 meters or 33 feet long!
    
• The thickest snake is the Anaconda. The biggest one found measured 111 centimeters or 44 inches around. That's huge!
    
• The Thread snake is the smallest snake. It is only about 10 centimeters (4 inches long) and the size of a toothpick.
    
• Vine snakes are remarkable because they appear to have binocular vision.
    
• Many Zookeepers believe that Cobras are faster learners than other snakes. They are able to tell the difference between their trainer and strangers.
    
• The ancient Greek god, Asklepios, was thought to be a healer of the sick and injured. People would take an offering to the temple and wait for Asklepios to, either come to them in their dreams or send his servants, the snake, to help them. One touch of the forked tongue was all they thought they needed to heal them. The healing snake was the Aesculapian snake. The Romans would bring this snake into their temples rather than the Greek healers.  To this day the Aesculapian snake forms part of the symbols representing physicians and veterinarians.
    
• This would be funny to watch! The Hognose, Grass snake and the Spitting Cobra will fake death when feeling threatened. They flip into their backs, open their mouths, and let their tongue flop out. And they will let out some smelly stuff from their anal gland. Nobody would want to eat it after that!
    
• A reticulated python, named Colossus, was the largest snake that ever lived in a zoo. She lived at the Pittsburgh Zoo in Pennsylvania. Clifford Pope, the author of a book entitled “The Giant Snakes” reported that she was 22 feet long when she was captured in what is now Thailand in 1949. Eight years later she grew to 8.69 m (28 ½ feet) long. Her body was 69 cm (37 ½ inches) around and her weight was around 145 kg (320 pounds). 

SNAKE STORIES AND MYTHS

All through history snakes have been both good and evil.  Here are some historic examples:

In the Christian bible, the story of Adam and Eve being tempted by the evil snake. It was the snake (Satan) the tempted Eve with an apple and caused them to be kicked out of the beautiful Garden of Eden.  Also in the Bible, Moses, who went to Egypt to convince the Pharaoh to release the Hebrew slaves, turned his staff (walking stick) into a snake to prove God’s power.

The Ancient Aztecs worshipped the snake. Quetzalcoatl was the “plumed serpent” and was considered the “Master of Life”. 

Some African Cultures worshipped rock Pythons and killing a python was a very serious crime.

Aborigines in Australia believed that a giant rainbow serpent was the creator of life.

Many cultures believed that snakes had medicinal or healing powers.

And of course there is the story of St. Patrick who got rid of all the snakes in Ireland.  He is celebrated every year on March 17th. Supposedly there are no snakes in Ireland to this day.

What about the stories of the snake charmers? Where the charmer plays the flute and the snake slowly comes out of a basket and sways to the music. Since snakes cannot hear sounds that aren’t vibrating on the ground, they can’t hear the flute music. The snake is actually following the motion of the flute and usually the charmer is swaying back and forth as well. The snakes that charmers use are tired out before hand so that they don’t attack the charmer.

Some common snake myths:

• The Death Adder has a sting in its tail.
• Snakes hypnotize their prey. 
• Tiger Snakes chase people. 
• Snakes milk cows. 
• If you kill one of a pair of Tiger Snakes, its mate will hunt you down to take its revenge.
• In Australia, there is a Hoop Snake that takes its tail in its mouth and then goes bowling merrily along.

A Greek writer named Aesop wrote many stories called fables. Fables are stories that are told in order to teach a lesson. They aren't necessarily true. Aesop wrote the following stories about snakes. The moral, or lesson, of the story is at the end.  

AESOP'S FABLES INVOLVING SNAKES

A Greek writer named Aesop wrote many stories called fables. Fables are stories that are told in order to teach a lesson. They aren’t necessarily true. Aesop wrote the following stories about snakes. The moral, or lesson, of the story is at the end. Here are some examples:

The Laborer and the Snake

 A snake, having made his hole close to the porch of a cottage, inflicted a mortal bite on the cottager's infant son. Grieving over his loss, the father resolved to kill the snake. The next day, when it came out of its hole for food, he took up his axe, but by swinging too hastily, missed its head and cut off only the end of its tail. After some time the cottager, afraid that the snake would bite him also, endeavored to make peace, and placed some bread and salt in the hole. The snake, slightly hissing, said: "There can henceforth be no peace between us; for whenever I see you I shall remember the loss of my tail, and whenever you see me you will be thinking of the death of your son."

The lesson: No one truly forgets injuries in the presence of him who caused the injury.

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The Farmer and the Snake

 One winter a farmer found a snake stiff and frozen with cold. He had compassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom. The warmth quickly revived the Snake, and resuming its natural instincts, bit its benefactor, inflicting on him a mortal wound. "Oh," cried the farmer with his last breath, "I am rightly served for pitying a scoundrel." 

The lesson: The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful.

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The Serpent and the Eagle
An Eagle swooped down upon a Serpent and seized it in his talons with the intention of carrying it off and devouring it. But the Serpent was too quick for him and had its coils round him in a moment; and then there ensued a life-and-death struggle between the two. A countryman, who was a witness of the encounter, came to the assistance of the eagle, and succeeded in freeing him from the Serpent and enabling him to escape. In revenge, the Serpent spat some of his poison into the man's drinking-horn. Heated with his exertions, the man was about to slake his thirst with a draught from the horn, when the Eagle knocked it out of his hand, and spilled its contents upon the ground.
The lesson: One good turn deserves another.  

SPECIAL INTEREST SNAKES

Ball Python
There are more than 2,700 species of snakes in the world. They live almost everywhere, in deserts, forests, oceans, streams, and lakes. Here are examples:

ANACONDA

Anacondas make their home in the Amazon jungles of South America and are part of the Boa Constrictor family. Anacondas live near rivers, lakes and swamps and like to live alone. Water is their main escape method when confronted with danger. Rather than attacking they will choose to slide into the water unnoticed, if possible.
Anacondas eat amphibious animals, like frogs & toads, as well as fish, caiman, birds, ducks and turtles.

The average size of one of these snake-giants is 6.1 m (20 feet) long and 148.5 kg. (300 pounds)!

Anacondas give birth to live young, around 24-35 at a time.

Anacondas are very difficult for scientists to study or even find. They are really quiet and leave no trail. They spend a lot of their time in the dark waters of their habitat.

BOA CONSTRICTOR

Boa Constrictors are one of the largest snakes in the world, along with the Reticulated Python and Anaconda.  Boas are non-poisonous but just as deadly. They ambush their prey, which means that they will hide and wait for something yummy to go by and then do a surprise attack. They use their flicking tongue to pick up the scent.  Just as their name suggests, they will coil their bodies around the prey and with each breath of the prey they will constrict, or squeeze, their coils just a little tighter until the animal can no longer breath. Their prey consists of birds, lizards, frogs and small mammals. Larger Boas will even eat monkeys, pigs or deer.

Although they are not considered Pit Vipers, some Boas have heat-sensitive scales around their mouths that help them find prey in the dark.

These snakes live in hot, tropical places and can be found both on the ground and in trees.

Boas give birth to live young, which means that they develop completely inside their mother. Once they are born they are on their own and know pretty much all they have to know about finding food and hiding.

Boas are said to be the most beautifully colored of all snakes.

COBRA

Cobras are famous for the threatening hood at their neck. They spread the hood out when they feel threatened or angry. Their hood is made up of flaps of skin attached to long ribs. They are also able to lift their heads high up off the ground, which is not only kinda scary, but helps them to search for food.  And just to make them a little scarier, they hiss loudly to scare off potential predators.

There are 270 different types of Cobras and their relatives, including Taipans, Adders, Mambas, and many sea snakes including Kraits, and they all have short fangs and are all extremely poisonous. 

Cobras live in hot tropical areas in Africa, Australia, and Southern Asia and their relatives, the Coral Snake, can be found in the United States. They can be found underground, in trees, and under rocks. The King Cobra is not only an excellent climber but a super swimmer as well. They live in forests near streams.

These snakes are hunters and will quietly follow their prey until they are ready to attack. They can move very fast and can speed along with their heads raised. Cobras are cannibals, which means that they will eat other snakes as well as birds, bird eggs and small mammals. Kraits feed almost totally on other snakes.

Cobras lay eggs and will stick around to defend them until they hatch. Wild boars and mongooses will steal cobra eggs. A mongoose will often win fights with Cobras because of their speed and agility. They also have thick fur to protect them against the cobra’s fangs. 

The Spitting Cobra has a special talent. Can you guess what it is? That’s right, it can spit! The venom it spits out can spray more than 1.8 meters, or 6 feet. Unfortunately for the one being spit at, this snake has near perfect aim, and will fire straight into the eyes of it’s prey. Ouch!

GARTER SNAKES

One of the most commonly known snakes in Canada is the garter snake.  They can be found anywhere in Canada and central United States and come in quite a few different colors and markings. Garter snakes are usually about 60 to 80 cm (23-30 inches) long, but they have been known to grow up to 135 cm.

Because Garter snakes live in colder temperatures they need to hibernate in winter. They will find shelter in cracks in the ground where the frost doesn’t reach. If you go searching for them you won’t find just one…there could be hundreds! Some snakes will travel as far as 32 km or 20 miles to reach their winter den in Manitoba, Canada. It is one of the largest ‘Garter’ gatherings in the world!

The main foods of the Garter snake are earthworms, frogs, fish, leeches, tadpoles and sometimes mice. Because they are quite small, they do have a lot to fear. They are hunted and eaten by bears, raccoons, skunks and especially birds. Crows, magpie, hawks and owls can find them very easily from up in the sky.

Garter snake babies are born live, usually 20 to 40 at a time. The largest number of babies born at one time is 98! 

RATTLESNAKES

Rattlesnakes are best known for, and most easily recognized by, their rattle. The rattlesnake babies are born with what is called a pre-button. The baby snake loses this piece when it sheds its skin for the first time. With the shedding a new button appears. With every shedding after that another button, or rattle, will be added. These buttons are made up of a material called Keratin, which is what the scales and your fingernails are made of! The rattles are empty, so what makes the noise? The noise comes from each segment knocking together, so until a rattlesnake has two or more pieces it isn’t going to make a sound! But when it does…you WILL hear it…and you WILL RUN!

Rattlesnakes are found in the southern parts of the United States, from the deserts to the mountains and grow between 3 and 4 feet (.9 to 1.2 m) long. There are 16 different types of Rattlers such as the Eastern Diamondback, Western Diamondback, Sidewinder and the Speckled, just to name a few. All of them have rattles, are venomous and are pit vipers.

Rattlesnakes feed on rodents, squirrels, rabbits and other small critters. They hibernate through the winter and come out in the spring to eat and then mate. Rattlesnake eggs will stay inside their mother until they hatch. Most of the time there are 8-10 babies born at once and are about 10 inches long. Babies are born venomous but cannot rattle and are often more aggressive than the adults. 

SEA SNAKES AND WATER SNAKES

Sea snakes seem pretty cool. Although all snakes can swim, sea snakes live mostly in the water. They do need to come up for air but can stay under water for up to an hour! Wow, try holding your breath that long! Since they need air regularly they are usually found in shallow waters of the Indian Ocean, and warmer areas of the Pacific Ocean. They eat fish, fish eggs and eels that they find under rocks and in reefs.

There are about 30-50 different types of sea snakes and they belong to the Cobra family. The average Sea snake grows to about 2 meters long and has a smallish head for its body size. Their tails are flattened to make fast swimming possible and flaps over their nostrils close when they are underwater. 

Sea snakes are very poisonous. The most poisonous one is the Beaded Sea Snake. Just 3 drops of venom can kill about 8 people! Fortunately, these snakes have short fangs and they are unable to bite through diver’s suits very easily. They are not likely to bite unless threatened. Their other methods of defense include to spray a stinky, musky liquid or to poop. Eew!

Eels are sometimes mistaken for Sea Snakes. Eels are part of the fish family and have gills for breathing. Sea snakes do not have gills but lungs instead and need to go to the surface for air. 

Sea Kraits are one of the few sea snakes that go to land to lay their eggs while most others, like the Olive sea snake will give birth in the water. 

PREDATORS

Rattlesnake Camoflauge

It is hard to believe but snakes have many enemies. Large birds, wild boars, mongooses, raccoons, foxes, coyotes and even other snakes are a few of the dangers snakes fall prey to.

Many people find it surprising that the largest and the scariest snakes can be afraid of anything, but it is true. While they are young they are easy prey to many birds and mammals but when they are older and larger they have humans to fear.

Humans hunt snakes for various reasons. Many different breeds of snakes are captured and shipped to other countries to be sold in pet shops. Venomous snakes are used for making anti-venon, which is made from their venom and is used to save the life of a snakebite victim. Snakeskin is used for making many things including shoes, purses and belts. And, unfortunately, many people often kill snakes out of fear.

One of the biggest threats to the snake population, the same as with many other animals, is the destruction of their habitats by humans. Their homes are being destroyed to make room for ranches, farms and highways.

Snakes have many ways of protecting themselves. Their coloring alone is great camouflage and some snakes can burrow down under sand or leaves for extra coverage. Some huff, puff and hiss loudly or shake their rattle tail to scare off a possible predator while others will flop over and hang their tongue out and play dead! Venomous snakes will try to escape or frighten off a hunter before ever trying to bite them.

Rattlesnake Rattle

HEY BABY!

Snakes will usually mate in spring, right after hibernation ends in colder climates. In the tropics mating can happen any time of the year. Male snakes will try to attract a female by doing a type of ‘play fighting’ with other males who want her attention. They do not try to kill each other…just win the fight! 
Some snakes, such as boas, rattlesnakes and garter snakes, give birth to live young. That means that the baby snakes develop inside their mother. When they are born they are covered with a thin membrane, kind of like a goopy baggie. The baby uses an egg tooth to rip out of the membrane and wriggle free. 
Other snakes lay eggs in a safe, warm place like in a hollow log or buried in the ground. Snake eggs are not hard like chicken eggs; they are kind of leathery and can be torn by the baby snakes with their egg tooth. The Racer and Coral snake will lay their eggs and then leaves and won’t return. When the babies hatch, a few weeks later, they will be on their own to hunt for food. King Cobras and some Pythons will stay with their eggs, keeping them warm and safe until they hatch. This is called “brooding”. After hatching the snake babies are on their own.

Mmm-YUMMY!

Snakes are carnivores, which means they will eat only meat including each other. Some snakes are hunters while others will lie in waiting to ambush their prey. They can be very sneaky and will try to trick their victims into coming to them! The Cantil snake, for example, has a bright yellow tip on its tail to look like a worm. Boy, won’t the bird be surprised when it finds out it isn’t a worm that it bit! Desert living snakes will hide under the sand and wait for something yummy to wander by.

The smallest of all snakes, the Thread snake, eats the pupae, or eggs, of ants and centipedes. The largest snakes, the Pythons and Anacondas, have been known to eat, deer and pigs! Most snakes live off of insects, rodents, birds, eggs, fish, frogs, lizards and small mammals.

All snakes swallow their food whole. While they do have teeth, the teeth are made for grabbing, hooking and holding their prey, not chewing. Constrictors will grab and hold their prey while wrapping their bodies around the victim and slowly “constricting” or tightening their coils until they squeeze the last breath out of their prey and the heart stops. Cobras, Vipers, Rattlesnakes, and other venomous snakes will maim or paralyze their prey by sinking their fangs into it before swallowing it.

Have you ever wondered how a snake can swallow such big meals without chewing? Snakes have powerful muscles all along the front half of their bodies. Snakes use these muscles for moving as well as swallowing. The muscles move the food down along the throat and into the snake’s long stomach. Moving the food through the throat into the stomach can take 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the animal they are eating.
In egg-eating snakes the sharp rib bones will poke through the eggshell to help speed along digestion. Food in the snake’s stomach can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of months to breakup or digest. That is a long time to work on a meal! 

Believe it or not, some snakes only need to eat a couple times a year!

IT MAKES 'SENSE'

Snakes use their senses to hunt, escape danger, and to find a mate.  Since snakes have very poor eyesight their other senses need to make up for it.

Some snakes can smell with their noses but ALL snakes smell with their tongues. When a snake sticks out its tongue it smells its surroundings. The moist tongue collects scents and small organisms from whatever it touches and from the air around it. When the tongue goes back into the mouth the forks touch a special sensory spot called the Jacobson's organ on the roof of the mouth and tells the snake what it smells. Snakes have a small notch in their lips that they can stick their tongues through so they don’t need to open their mouths.

Snakes can absorb vibrations through the ground and determine the size of the prey or danger by its movements.