Snake Facts
Snake Facts Worth Knowing - Including Some Trivia
The snake is a pretty amazing creature, leading to some amazing snake facts. Some of these facts are quite important, others just plain interesting. There are over 2,000 species of snakes in the world, some say closer to 3,000. One reason for this discrepancy is, the majority of species live in tropical climates, and new species continue to be discovered in these regions. Approximately 15% of all snake species are venomous. In the United States the number of venomous species is rather small, with copperheads, rattlesnakes, coral snakes, and water moccasins falling into this category.
The best known of the poisonous snakes, besides the rattlesnake, is probably the King cobra, a resident of south Asia and the Indian sub-continent. Australia holds the distinction of being home to 7 of the 10 deadliest snakes. The black mamba is double trouble. Besides being one of the world's most dangerous snakes, it is also believed to be the world's fastest, and can move at about the same speed that a human can run. Venomous snake facts aren't all bad news however. Most snakes are very shy, and will get away from you if they can. A few won't do you that favor of course. It's helpful that most, though not all, venomous snakes are brightly colored. Of course, some non-venomous snakes, being perhaps a bit brighter than their relatives, are also brightly colored, probably hoping to bluff potential predators into leaving them alone.
Here are a few snake facts which should give you a better understanding of how snakes live from day to day. Snakes are reptiles, and as such are cold blooded, meaning they cannot directly control their inner temperature, and must move to warm places or to cooler places as necessary, to maintain their needed temperature range. Snakes cannot hear, but can sense vibrations. They smell by flicking their tongues, and transferring air molecules containing a scent to the roof of their mouth, where a sensory organ known as the Jacobsen's organ is located. The fork in their tongue helps them determine the direction a smell is coming from, so they can better locate their prey, or the location of a threat.
Snake's bodies are jointed, with a typical snake having up to several hundred pairs of ribs. Scales on their undersides help propel them forward. Place a snake on a very smooth surface, such as glass, and they will be unable to make traction or move in a given direction. Smaller snakes eat insects, while larger ones eat insects and small mammals. Very large snakes such as the python, will eat larger prey, including other snakes. Snakes cannot chew their food but must swallow it whole.
Snakes are feared and loathed by many, loved by others, and kept as pets by some. Most people appreciate the presence of the common garden snake, knowing that these harmless snakes do a great deal of good. Even the feared rattlesnake helps to keep the population of certain nuisance rodents in check. In ancient times snakes were honored, and believed to be the servants of Asklepios, the Greek god of healing. To this day, the seal of medical professionals and veterinarians is a snake wrapped around Asklepios' staff.
A final pair of snake facts: Herpetology is the study of snakes, reptiles and amphibians. If you study snakes, breed them, or just keep them, you may qualify as a Herpetologist!