snake

snake facts

interesting fact

There are approximately 4,000 known species worldwide, a number that is constantly changing.

diet

carnivore

lifestyle

• solitary

type

reptile

slogan

There are approximately 4,000 known species worldwide

key point:

• Only 200 of the 600 venomous snakes are venomous enough to harm humans.
• Snakes can be found on every continent on Earth – except Antarctica.
• Although they have teeth, snakes do not chew their food, they swallow it whole.

Snakes are a group of legless reptiles with more than 4,000 different species found all over the world.

Check out all of our expert product reviews.

Also known by the scientific name Serpentes , they are easily noticeable with their slender bodies, which look like a head with a long tail. They are physically very strong, although this strength is used in several ways.

Snakes are closely related to lizards, which are also reptiles. Although snakes do not have eyelids or pierced ears, they have become beloved pets for many eclectic owners. The snake, a mythological symbol known everywhere, is just another name for it.

5 Unbelievable Facts About Snakes!

Here are some interesting facts about these reptiles:

Health and Recreation for Snake People

Check out all of our expert product reviews.

• Of the more than 4,000 different species, only 600 are venomous. Snakes like gopher snakes and king snakes are non-venomous. Only 200 of these snakes are potent enough to harm humans.
• Although they are reptiles, like lizards, they do not have eyelids or pierced ears.
• Despite having teeth, snakes do not chew their food. Instead, they swallow it whole.
• These reptiles can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
• The oldest snake is located in Missouri and is 62 years old.

scientific name

The scientific name of these reptiles is the genus Snake , which belongs to the kingdom Animalia and the phylum Chordate . Their class is called reptiles , and their order is called squamous . This clade is called Ophidia .

Serpentes are often simply called snakes in mythological stories, from the Latin word "serpō", which means "creep" or "crawl".

evolution and origin

Snakes are a group of reptiles that evolved from lizards during the Late Jurassic Period, about 150 million years ago. They have evolved long, slender bodies with no limbs, which allows them to efficiently traverse a variety of habitats including grasslands, deserts and forests.

Snakes are thought to have evolved from terrestrial lizards, whose ancestors may have had four legs. Snakes lost limbs over time through an evolutionary process called reduction. This occurs when certain body parts are no longer needed and become smaller until they eventually disappear.

Today, there are about 3,000 species of snakes on every continent except Antarctica.

appearance

Snakes are reptiles, but they obviously don't have legs. However, not all legless reptiles are called snakes.

It appears that the snake's only components are its head and tail, which take up the entire length of its body. Some snakes are as short as 4.1 inches (like the Barbados line snake), but the world's longest snake (the reticulated python) is over 20 feet long.

The teeth of these reptiles also vary from species to species. Many species have several needle-like sharp teeth, but venomous species have fangs. Venomous snakes usually store their venom in glands on the head behind the eyes. Only about 600 species of snakes are venomous. A snake, sometimes called a serpent, does not have ear holes, but its ears are inside.

These reptiles are covered in scales, although they have human-like skin underneath. Some snakes have keel-shaped scales with a ridge in the center of each scale, while others have smooth scales. Markings vary by species, but there is hardly a single color that you can't see.

The color is sometimes an indicator of how dangerous the snake is, but the pattern helps distinguish between threatening and harmless animals. Snakes come in every color of the rainbow, including red, green, yellow, blue, and black.

Rattlesnakes have a large rattle at the end of their tail, which makes a loud noise to keep animals and humans away. It's also important to note that some animals look like snakes but aren't.

The animal's body also indicates how the snake preyed. Slender-bodied animals are usually more active hunters, often chasing prey, while stubby snakes usually sit and wait for their prey.

Read here to learn more about snake anatomy. Plus, read here to learn about the most colorful snakes in the world.

Some snakes look like dragons. Read here to learn about them.

Behavior

When it comes to hunting, snakes have an incredible sense of smell, which they rely on. When they stick out their tongues, they look for chemicals in the air. Other snakes take advantage of their ability to detect body temperature. Shrinkage and venom are often the primary means of subduing prey.

These reptiles look for the right environment to keep their bodies warm because their cold-blooded bodies cannot regulate their internal temperature. Snakes will move back and forth between warm and cool areas as needed.

Snakes shed their skin as they grow; many shed 2-4 times per year. The shedding process can be quite uncomfortable, but it's a healthy process reptiles go through.

While some species produce venom, most do not. Only 600 species of snakes have any kind of venom, and only a third of these venomous snakes are capable of fully injuring humans, and even fewer are capable of fatally killing humans. Learn about the world's fiercest animals here.

While humans are not a natural part of the reptile's diet, it will bite if it feels threatened. In some species, this bite can be fatal. There are fearsome and dangerous species in the world, the deadliest being the sawscale viper, which kills more humans than any other species.

Learn about the most dangerous animals on Earth to humans here.

common snakes

The following list includes some common snakes found around the world:

• Pythons – Pythons are a member of the snake family with 42 recognized species. These reptiles are mainly found in Asia, Australia, and Africa; however, the Burmese python was introduced in the Florida Everglades and is currently considered an invasive species. Most species in this family are "ambush predators," meaning they stay still and attack when prey passes by.
• Cobras – Most cobras are often referred to as "cobras"; however, not all cobras are cobras. These snakes are characterized by upright fangs at the front of their mouths, and the species can be terrestrial or aquatic. Cobras are endemic to tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
• Rattlesnakes – Native to the Americas, rattlesnakes are characterized by a rattle at the end of their tail to scare away predators. Although rattlesnakes rarely attack humans unless provoked, rattlesnake bites are the leading cause of snakebite in North America. They are an example of the viper family Viperidae.
• Garter – Garter snakes are generally harmless in North and Central America. These snakes were long thought to be non-venomous, but recent research has shown that they produce a neurotoxic venom that is so mild it doesn't harm or kill humans.

Other types of snakes include:

• cobra
• Cobra
• poisonous snake
• python
• green anaconda
• ball python
• grass snake
• Titanoboa
• king snake
• corn snake
• python
• swimming snake
• Inland Taipan
• Flammulina velutipes
• Mambas
• black Mamba
• python
• coral reef snake
• Taipan
• eastern brown snake
• Red-bellied black snake
• catchphrase
• cobra
• emerald tree python
• queen snake
• brahman blind snake
• Monochrome Xenopus
• Elephant snake
• blind snake
• fine-grained goldfish
• Mapolon
• sun snake
• mole snake
• python
• Cylindrical algae
• Muridae
• Lamp Profes
• crabapple
• ninia
• Pachyphylla
• Anilius
• fake cobra
• sharp-tailed snake
• Lipophilus
• mole viper
• Nereis
• Caudalidae

Habitat

Snakes are extremely versatile, and many types are adapted to climates around the world. While the only snake-free continent is Antarctica, there are countries that don't have any native snakes, including Ireland, New Zealand and Iceland. Alaska is one of the few states that also has no native species.

Typical habitats are as vast as the places they can live. In both water-based and land-based environments, these reptiles can also be found in the tropics. While buckskins and water snakes generally live in and around water, most snakes live on land. Depending on the species, snakes can live in deserts, grasslands, grasslands, and rainforests.

diet

These reptiles are carnivorous, which means their diet consists entirely of other animals. They can choose warm-blooded or cold-blooded animals, looking for amphibians, insects, and mammals; some species feed exclusively on other snakes and lizards.

Although each snake eats its prey whole, the way they render their prey helpless varies. Pythons and boa constrictors bite their prey to grab them, wrap their bodies around and wring the life out of their prey. If an animal has fangs, it delivers venom to its prey. The venom comes from a sac hidden behind the eye.

Predators and Threats

These reptiles are relatively quick and efficient predators, but they are also the prey of many different animals. One of the biggest predators of these reptiles is humans, as some people hunt them for meat, clothing, and many other purposes. However, snakes are generally not considered an endangered species.

Populations of these reptiles may be negatively impacted by deforestation, hunting and climate change. Ultimately, the threats to snakes depend on many factors, such as the species, where they live, and the amount of meat available. Learn about some of the endangered snake species here.

To learn about some snakes that don't bite, read here.

What eats snakes?

These reptiles may be quite impressive hunters, but animals like large birds and coyotes have made these reptiles a regular part of their diet.

They are also hunted by mongooses, wild boars, foxes, raccoons and other prey that can pick them up and eat them. Some snakes prey on other snakes – king snakes, indigo snakes, and king cobras are good examples.

Fortunately, each species has its own way of defending against threats. Camouflage plays an important role in their defense, hiding for extra coverage. Venomous species will bite humans as a last resort, but they usually try to escape.

What do snakes eat?

Since these reptiles are carnivores, there are many small animals that can become their prey. The diets consumed by animals are based on their species. Insects, amphibians, earthworms, slugs, fish, rodents, rabbits, and birds are all possible foods. Some snakes eat eggs.

Read here to discover some fish-eating snakes and some bird-eating snakes.

Reproduction, Babies and Longevity

The reproductive process of these reptiles is mainly a process of internal fertilization. Most species interweave their bodies with those of their mates, with the male releasing sperm from one of two organs it possesses. A female does not necessarily become pregnant with her young immediately. Some females can store a male's sperm for 2-5 years before fertilization.

The species will determine the female's birth type. Rattlesnakes and garter snakes give birth to their babies when they are young, which makes them ovoviviparous. However, species like ball pythons and corn snakes lay eggs, making them oviparous. In fact, about 70 percent of all these reptiles are egg-laying, not ovoviviparous.

The number of eggs or live young will vary widely. For snakes that give birth to live pups, litters of approximately 10-30 plutella are produced, while diamondback moths can produce up to 40 pups in a litter.

Fertile females will usually find a secluded place to give birth. For species that lay eggs, the size of the nest varies widely. While ball pythons may only lay one egg, some lay up to 100 eggs per year.

The type of snake determines their lifespan. While smaller species, such as garter snakes, live for less than ten years, various types of pythons can live for about 25 to 50 years.

As of September 2020, the longest-lived snake was a ball python, 62 years old, at the St. Louis Zoo in Missouri.

population

There are more than 4,000 species of snakes worldwide, with total populations varying by country. Interestingly, several countries have no known native snake species at all, including Antarctica. This is a compilation of prehistoric snakes.

While most snakes are not dangerous to people, they are largely misunderstood and unpopular.

The IUCN classifies snakes (as a group) as "not extinct," although some species are present in smaller numbers. Here is a list of the most popular snakes in the world.

Read about the world's rarest snakes here.

in the zoo

These reptiles can be found in nearly every major zoo, raising awareness among the public about this species of reptiles that can be found all over the globe. Most often, zoos will include native snakes, so species will vary by location.

When visiting this reptile, most species will simply relax in the tank. However, some zoos (such as the Virginia Living Museum) have demonstrations outside the tank, allowing patrons to see them up close. With greater awareness and more information about snakes, the fears often associated with these animals can be reduced.

Snakes living in zoos may not show the same outward symptoms of disease as they do in the wild. Zookeepers are very familiar with the behavior of these snakes when they are sick, allowing them to be treated quickly when they are ill.

Certain types of snakes can be kept as pets, such as corn snakes or rose pythons.

read more

• Fits snakes in 20 gallon tanks.
• A snake that can eat people.
• Snakes are vibrant creatures that can come in many different colors. Discover the beauty of a blue or yellow snake.
• Some snakes have no color. Look at the 12 white snakes!
• The snake you really want is in your yard.
• The largest snake that can be kept as a pet.
• What does the world's largest snake eat.
• The oldest known snake in history.
• The largest rainbow snake ever found.
• The blackest snake in the world.
• Take our snake quiz.

type of snake

list of snakes

See all 289 animals that start with S