Snake FAQ
Snakes
There are over 2,900 species of snakes, and they live on nearly every continent in the world. Depending on the species, a snake can be as small as 10 centimeters, or as long as 25 feet. Snakes are covered in overlapping scales and have loosely articulated skulls, and most are able to dislocate their lower jaw, enabling them to swallow prey much larger than their own head. A snake's body is long and narrow, and are thought to have evolved from burrowing or aquatic lizards.
Contrary to the popular belief that snakes are slimy, snakeskin actually has a smooth, dry texture. The scales on a snakes underbelly are specialized for travel by gripping surfaces. A snakes eyes are covered by clear scales rather than movable eyelids; so a snake's eyes are always open.
A snake will occasionally molt, or shed its skin. This serves several functions. The old and worn out skin is replaced, and it can help get rid of parasites like mites and ticks. A young snake may shed its skin up to four times a year, while an older snake might only do this once or twice a year.
A snakes vision can vary from nearly blind to a keen eyesight, but the main pattern is their vision is decent, but not sharp, and allows them to track movements. A snake will use smell to track their prey. A snake will use its forked tongue to gather airborne particles and passing them to an organ in the mouth for examination. The tongue is in constant motion, to determine the presence of a predator or prey in the area, and the fork helps to give a form of direction sense. Parts of the body that are not in contact with the ground are very sensitive to vibrations, and this helps the snake sense predators and prey. Some snakes have infrared-sensitive receptors on their head, located between the nostrils and eyes, which allows them to perceive radiated heat.
All snakes are carnivorous, and eat small animals including amphibians, small mammals, birds, and fish. Snakes are unable to bite or tear their food, so they are able to dislocate their lower jaw to swallow their prey whole. Depending on the snake, they can either kill their prey via constriction, a venomous bite, or by just swallowing it whole and alive. After eating, a snake will become dormant during the digestion process. Snakes feed sporadically, and so the intestines enter a reduced state between meals to conserve energy. If a snake is disturbed or threatened after eating its prey, it may sometimes regurgitate in order to escape.
Snakes are cold-blooded, meaning that their temperature is controlled by external means. They are dependent on environmental heat sources, and may be seen basking in the sun.
Most species of snakes lay eggs, and most will abandon them shortly after laying. Some species though will construct a nest and stay in the vicinity or coiled around the eggs until they hatch. There are a few species that retain the eggs within their bodies until they are almost ready to hatch.
Several species of snakes use venom to kill or immobilize their prey, and it is transmitted through fangs located in the mouth. Snakes do not normally prey on humans and most will not attack unless startled, injured or threatened. Some venomous snakes carry an extremely potent venom, and immediate medical attention should be sought if there is a snake bite. Tissue damage, infection, paralysis, and even death can result from a venomous snake bite. Snakes should not be approached or handled except by professionals.
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