8 Cool Facts About Snakes
“…1. Snakes live on every continent except
Antarctica.
Over
3,000 species of snakes live worldwide in nearly every environment possible,
including deserts, swamps, forests, grasslands, & the ocean.
The
largest variety of snakes is found in warmer climates because all snakes are
cold blooded or ectothermic, which means they can’t regulate their own body
temperature. They need an external source of heat to survive. In colder areas,
many snakes will hibernate for winter or seek warm areas to hide in, such as
inside a garage or barn.
The
only places in the world that do not have snakes are Iceland, Ireland,
Greenland, & New Zealand. Why snakes never made it to these island nations
is unknown, but many of them now have laws against importing snakes because
non-native snakes could cause extensive damage to the local ecosystems.
2. Snakes have been around for over 60 million years.
The
largest snake fossil ever found was from what scientists have named the
titanoboa. This creature lived over 60 million years ago & grew 50 feet…
long & weighed up to 2,000 pounds ...
The
largest snake in the world today is the reticulated python…
3. Snakes have no chin.
…Instead
of one continuous jaw bone like humans, snakes have 2 bones that come down each
side of their jaws. These bones are connected by very stretchy ligaments that
allow them to easily spread apart & consume large prey…
4. Only 70% of snakes lay eggs.
The
other 30% give birth to live young…
King
cobras are the only snake known to build actual nests for their eggs, which the
mothers guard viciously.
5. Some snakes can fly.
The
thought of a flying snake may seem like something out of a nightmare, but a few
snake species in the jungles of South & Southeast Asia are known to take
flight…
6. The majority of snakes are not poisonous.
Of the
approximately 3,000 species of snakes in the world, only 375 of these are
venomous…
7. Snakes can hunt in groups.
Snakes
have the reputation of being solitary hunters. But that’s not always true. A
few species have actually been documented hunting in groups…
Cooperative
hunting has also been observed in Cuban boas. These snakes are known to gather
at the mouths of caves to hunt bats as they move in & out of the cave to
roost each day. They do this by attaching their tails to small pits in the
ceiling of the cave & hanging downwards to grab bats as they fly past…
8. Snakes symbolize good luck.
…many
cultures traditionally believe that snakes bring good luck. In Japan, snakes
symbolize wealth & money. It’s said you may lose all your money if you kill
a snake. And finding a white snake can bring life-long luck.
In
general, the more poisonous a snake is, the more good fortune it will bring. In
India & Southeast Asia, meeting a king cobra can be considered a very lucky
event. And in some parts of China, seeing a snake enter your home is a sign
that you will have a long, peaceful life…”
Zoe
Blarowski
Nov.
16/ 2017
Care2.com
Cute Critter Pic
Weekly Chuckle
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