Northern Rubber Boas are often used to assist individuals in overcoming their fear of snakes. These gentle snakes never attempt to strike or bite humans under any circumstances. However, on rare occasions, they might emit a strong musk from their vent if they sense danger. Their saliva contains a mild anticoagulant that can cause bites to bleed, making the injury appear worse. These important defense mechanisms help water snakes survive predators such as raccoons, snapping turtles, foxes, opossums, other snakes, and birds of prey. Geraint claims that there has been no rise or fall in the number of incidents within the last few years. Despite the mounting pressures, hope is not lost. Museum scientists are working hard to understand and fight against the threats facing British wildlife.

Many people think that all snakes kill their prey by biting it and injecting the prey with poison. This isn't true. Cobras, vipers and other related species are the only snakes that use venom to hunt. Sharks and big birds like ospreys are the main predators of olive sea snakes. Other names for olive sea snakes are olive-brown sea snakes or golden sea snakes. They are venomous. Dugite Snake Snake venom can actually be used for medicinal purposes, such as in the treatment of certain medical conditions, such as pain relief. Most Anti-venoms used to treat a venomous snake bite are actually created from the venom of the snake that did the biting. 23. Venom spitting You can play the original Snake if you want to relive the beautiful simplicity of the early iterations. Popular Snake Games The largest snake we know of that ever existed is the Titanoboa and based on fossil records would grow up to 50 feet long and weigh 2,500 lbs. In other words, the size of some school busses. 36. The smallest snake in the world – the Barbados threadsnakeAnyone who has ever watched a snake move, climb or coil will be able to attest to their tremendous flexibility, which in turn is made possible by numerous sets of ribs that extend almost the entire length of the body. They can have anywhere between 200–400 vertebrae. Pair organs like kidneys are arranged longitudinally, and snakes have an elongated right lung that is responsible for most, if not all, ventilation. Furthermore, they are astonishingly strong.

Coloration is highly variable and can be greenish-gray, olive green, greenish-brown, light brown, or yellow. All variations have dark blotches on the body that turn into rings near the tail. If you come across one, you may see its unique defense posture. Red-bellied Snakes will curl their tails and expose their bright red-orange bellies when they feel threatened in hopes of scaring you away. Venomous snakes have been recorded as killing themselves due to their own bite. 14. Feared yet interesting! Snakes are not an animal group typically celebrated. Far too few people appreciate snakes as the marvels of natural engineering they are. Many are wary of them, while some are paralytically terrified at the thought. There is a rational aspect to this fear – certain snakes are dangerous, and a select few are potentially deadly. But like all fears directed at wildlife, it is only exacerbated by an unfortunate assembly of superstitions, misconceptions, and a fair amount of downright inaccurate information. What follows is a summary of some of the fascinating characteristics of these remarkable reptiles – to balance the scales, so to speak. Ancient origins Carpet pythons are prevalent in all states in Australia except Tasmania. Known scientifically as Morelia spilota, the snakes live in forested areas and avoid arid and semi-arid zones. They are semi-arboreal snakes that frequently climb trees to bask or follow prey. But they do not wholly rely on trees as they sometimes move around elsewhere on the ground.Rattlesnakes are found in both North and South America, with the United States home to the most species, and likely the largest number, of rattlesnakes in the world.

But if we don't look after nature, nature can't look after us. We must act on scientific evidence, we must act together, and we must act now. One of the most noticeable features of rubber boas is their short and blunt tails, which are often confused for their heads.The rarest and most endangered snake is the St. Lucia racer. It is believed that there are 18 to 100 of these snakes left in existence. Other snakes, such as the Amami Takachiho and the Adelophis copei are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources since their populations are decreasing. Other facts Only four countries/territories in the entire world have no snakes: Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand. Isn’t this an interesting snake fact! 10. How many species of snakes are venomous?

The name “Massasauga” actually comes from the Chippewa language and means “ great river mouth” which describes their habitat. Look for them in floodplain forests, shrub swamps, low areas along rivers and lakes, wet prairies, moist grasslands, bogs, and marshes. During the summer, they often migrate to drier regions adjacent to these habitats. Eastern Massasauga Range Map Also called Grass Snakes, these bright green snakes can be found in marshes, meadows, pastures, savannas, open woods, and along stream and lake edges. They prefer moist areas near permanent water sources. Smooth Greensnake Range Map

Ancient origins

How many hatchlings a snake will have is directly proportional to how much (and how often) it eats. 41. Life-long growth Adders emerge from hibernation very early in the year and can be seen sunning themselves on south-facing slopes and hedgebanks on warmer days as early as late January. Are adders dangerous to humans?