Snakes
A herpetologist at heart, a marine biologist by education, and a semi-professional animal keeper, I'm interested in snakes, spiders, insects, and amphibians. Snakes are to me, particularly intriguing. The way they move, they slither through bushes and the final strike that numbs their prey. I also like the mystique associated with these serpents, and many of the myths surrounding them (They are NOT slimy).
Constrictors
Generally there are two types of snake; one that kills by using venom produced by their body, and the other using sheer strength to strangle their prey to death. You also have some that are a bit in between and instead of venom use teeth and tackle smaller prey, like Garter Snakes.
Anaconda, for example, is a constrictor. They have teeth that points backward to provide an even tighter grip on the victim. Once bitten, they would immediately wrap themselves around their prey. Once imprisoned in the embrace of death, it is very unlikely for the prey to escape.
A constrictor tightens its constriction every time the prey exhale, and with every breath the prey takes, it becomes harder to breathe. And finally you cant even expand your chest to breathe at all, and you die from suffocation.
Note that constrictors do not have venomous fangs. They rely purely on their muscle strength and stealth. Like their venomous counterpart, they also have infrared or heat detection pit near their mouth to help detect the body heat of their prey.
Apart from that, they also have a weapon in their tongue. The tongue is sensitive enough to detect the most minute change in chemical content of their environment.
Venomous Snakes
How to differentiate a venomous snake and a nonvenomous snake?
You do this by looking at the shape of their head - MOST OF THE TIME. Venomous snakes usually have a triangular-shaped head, meaning it's wider at the neck and narrower at the mouth. Nonvenomous snakes have a rather round-shaped head, which provides a firmer grip and more room more muscle. That said, if in doubt, consider it venomous!
Apart from that, venomous snakes are usually smaller in size. The largest venomous snake, the King Cobra, is merely 3 meters in length. In the contrary, constrictors such as the Anaconda and Reticulated Python could grow up to 30 feet long(approximately 10 meters).
Constrictors grow to that length because they need enormous muscle and lengthy body to constrict their victims(It's not easy to constrict a deer you see....), while venomous snakes tackle smaller, faster mammals such as rats and squirrels. They do not need huge muscle mass as the venom could do the job for them.
The King Cobra, the largest venomous snake in the world, is hailed as god in India, despite hundreds of people being bitten by the species every year. One drop of King Cobra venom could kill up to 160 people.
The most venomous snake in the world, the sea snake, lives in waters off Indonesia and Sulawesi, though they can be found in other parts of the world too, mostly in the Pacific and Indian Ocean. They are relatively small, and their venom is almost 100 times more lethal than any other snakes. The reason why their venom is so potent is because they hunt fish for food.
And unlike land animals, fish could get away really fast. Land snakes can track their bitten prey through scent, but fish doesn't leave scent trails for sea snakes, so the sea snake need a venom potent enough to paralyze their victims before the prey gets too far.
Snakes are equipped with complicated senses to look out for their prey even in the darkest night. Once bitten, the venom would start to digest the prey from within.
There are four distinct types of venom; namely neurotoxin, hemotoxin, cytotoxin, and alsoproteolytic venom.
Each reacts differently based on the type of prey the snake consume.
But they all kill.
The only way to treat a snake bite is by using antivenom.
To produce antivenom, we need the venom from the snake.
First the snake will be milked, ie you often see in documentaries where the snake is forced to bite on a plastic sheet to release its venom into the jar. Then the yellowish venom would be diluted and injected into a large mammals' body, normally a horse. A horse immune system would develop antibody to counter the venom in say, two weeks time. Then the horse will undergo blood transfusion to draw out the blood, and within the blood lies the precious antibody we call antivenom to treat snake bite.
Unfortunately, snakes are threatened by extinction too. Snake skin is used to make bags and leather products, and there are also demands for snake bladder from the Chinese black market, as it believed that it could enhance their blood circulation.
Deforestation, too, is killing snakes on a large scale. People also destroy snakes' nests and steal their eggs.
Although baby snakes are equipped with the essential survival tool i.e venom and muscle, they are easy meal for birds and mongoose. Survival rate of young snakes is very low.
Religion, too is playing a part in the snakes' demise. In the bible, the snake is linked with the devil, and early missionaries condemned the worship of snake in India, and that eroded the protection of snake as well.
We should do something before this wonderful creature follows the path of other extincted animals. In general snakes are not a threat. Around the farm they control rodents, which is a good thing. As long as a venomous snakes has not taken up residence in your garden, under the porch or in your shed, they will gladly leave us alone if we do the same for them. Just be cautious of animals if you have a known venomous snake on the property as dogs and cats can get overly curious and end up bitten.
Some common snake myths:
Constrictors
Generally there are two types of snake; one that kills by using venom produced by their body, and the other using sheer strength to strangle their prey to death. You also have some that are a bit in between and instead of venom use teeth and tackle smaller prey, like Garter Snakes.
Anaconda, for example, is a constrictor. They have teeth that points backward to provide an even tighter grip on the victim. Once bitten, they would immediately wrap themselves around their prey. Once imprisoned in the embrace of death, it is very unlikely for the prey to escape.
A constrictor tightens its constriction every time the prey exhale, and with every breath the prey takes, it becomes harder to breathe. And finally you cant even expand your chest to breathe at all, and you die from suffocation.
Note that constrictors do not have venomous fangs. They rely purely on their muscle strength and stealth. Like their venomous counterpart, they also have infrared or heat detection pit near their mouth to help detect the body heat of their prey.
Apart from that, they also have a weapon in their tongue. The tongue is sensitive enough to detect the most minute change in chemical content of their environment.
Venomous Snakes
How to differentiate a venomous snake and a nonvenomous snake?
You do this by looking at the shape of their head - MOST OF THE TIME. Venomous snakes usually have a triangular-shaped head, meaning it's wider at the neck and narrower at the mouth. Nonvenomous snakes have a rather round-shaped head, which provides a firmer grip and more room more muscle. That said, if in doubt, consider it venomous!
Apart from that, venomous snakes are usually smaller in size. The largest venomous snake, the King Cobra, is merely 3 meters in length. In the contrary, constrictors such as the Anaconda and Reticulated Python could grow up to 30 feet long(approximately 10 meters).
Constrictors grow to that length because they need enormous muscle and lengthy body to constrict their victims(It's not easy to constrict a deer you see....), while venomous snakes tackle smaller, faster mammals such as rats and squirrels. They do not need huge muscle mass as the venom could do the job for them.
The King Cobra, the largest venomous snake in the world, is hailed as god in India, despite hundreds of people being bitten by the species every year. One drop of King Cobra venom could kill up to 160 people.
The most venomous snake in the world, the sea snake, lives in waters off Indonesia and Sulawesi, though they can be found in other parts of the world too, mostly in the Pacific and Indian Ocean. They are relatively small, and their venom is almost 100 times more lethal than any other snakes. The reason why their venom is so potent is because they hunt fish for food.
And unlike land animals, fish could get away really fast. Land snakes can track their bitten prey through scent, but fish doesn't leave scent trails for sea snakes, so the sea snake need a venom potent enough to paralyze their victims before the prey gets too far.
Snakes are equipped with complicated senses to look out for their prey even in the darkest night. Once bitten, the venom would start to digest the prey from within.
There are four distinct types of venom; namely neurotoxin, hemotoxin, cytotoxin, and alsoproteolytic venom.
Each reacts differently based on the type of prey the snake consume.
But they all kill.
The only way to treat a snake bite is by using antivenom.
To produce antivenom, we need the venom from the snake.
First the snake will be milked, ie you often see in documentaries where the snake is forced to bite on a plastic sheet to release its venom into the jar. Then the yellowish venom would be diluted and injected into a large mammals' body, normally a horse. A horse immune system would develop antibody to counter the venom in say, two weeks time. Then the horse will undergo blood transfusion to draw out the blood, and within the blood lies the precious antibody we call antivenom to treat snake bite.
Unfortunately, snakes are threatened by extinction too. Snake skin is used to make bags and leather products, and there are also demands for snake bladder from the Chinese black market, as it believed that it could enhance their blood circulation.
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| Snake bladder |
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| Snake wine |
Although baby snakes are equipped with the essential survival tool i.e venom and muscle, they are easy meal for birds and mongoose. Survival rate of young snakes is very low.
Religion, too is playing a part in the snakes' demise. In the bible, the snake is linked with the devil, and early missionaries condemned the worship of snake in India, and that eroded the protection of snake as well.
We should do something before this wonderful creature follows the path of other extincted animals. In general snakes are not a threat. Around the farm they control rodents, which is a good thing. As long as a venomous snakes has not taken up residence in your garden, under the porch or in your shed, they will gladly leave us alone if we do the same for them. Just be cautious of animals if you have a known venomous snake on the property as dogs and cats can get overly curious and end up bitten.
Some common snake myths:
Myth #1
Snakes are slimy and clammy to the touch.
Truth
This is incorrect. No snake is slimy. Their scales are actually quite smooth, and glides easily over skin; not an ounce of slime present. Likewise, snakes are not clammy. Depending on where you find one at, it will be either warm or cool to the touch. This is because snakes cannot create their own body heat. Therefore, they are the temperature of the environment where you find them.
Myth #2
All snakes have fangs, and a bite from one will hurt severely and lead to death.
Truth
Not all snakes have fangs, nor do they all have venom, and contrary to popular belief, many snake bites do not hurt.
Only venomous snakes have fangs: copperheads, cottonmouths, vipers, etc. Snakes such as boas and pythons do not possess fangs. A few species of snakes possess 'rear' fangs, such as a Hognose. However, these fangs are far back in the mouth, hence their name, and even if the snake does bite, you aren't likely to get caught by those rear fangs.
Usually, a snake bite does not hurt. Small colubrids, such as corn snakes and garters, rarely ever bite, and when they do, it is hardly painful. Even a larger snake will not hurt nearly like one would expect. The level of pain you feel comes down to what the snake wants you to feel. If it wants it to hurt, it will, no matter its size. Luckily, most are nothing more than pricks on the flesh.
Myth #3
Pet boas and pythons can eat you.
Truth
Not true. Most pet pythons and boas will never reach a size where that even becomes a possibility. Ball Pythons, Jungle Carpet Pythons, Red Tail Boas...none of these get anywhere near the size to eat their master.
Likewise, for those who keep Burmese, Reticulated Pythons, and Anacondas, the odds of being eaten by their snake are non-existent. Burmese have been known to kill their owners, usually because of the keepers' lack of knowledge and caution, but never has it been recorded of a pet snake eating its master.
Myth #4
Snakes carry large amounts of Salmonella, and will make you sick.
Truth
While snakes do carry Salmonella, the odds of becoming infected by it are very small, if properly cared for. One must use common sense when handling a snake. Never allow it in your mouth (I'm not aware of anyone who actually does this), and always wash your hands after handling the snake. Using an antibacterial gel works fine.
Always remove feces and urine from a snake's cage as soon as it happens, as the feces are where Salmonella is contracted. If your snake happens to slither through it, give the snake a warm bath to clean it, clean the bedding, and then replace the snake. Be sure to wash your hands.
Finally, be sure to scrub the cage once a month. Completely remove all objects, scrub the cage with a light bleach solution, rinse thoroughly, and after it has dried and has no fumes, replace everything. As long as the cage and snake are properly maintained, and you wash your hands, the odds of becoming sick from a snake are very slim.
Myth #5
Snakes can hypnotize humans and animals with their eyes.
Truth
This is not true. A snake cannot hypnotize a person or animal in any way.
Myth #6
Hoop snakes. This is by far my favorite myth, as I almost wish it was true. The myth goes that whenever a hoop snake is scared, it will bite its tail, form a circle-or hoop-shape, and then roll away like a wheel. Another version of the myth says that it will form a hoop shape and then chase the offender.
Truth
Unfortunately, this myth is just that-a myth. There is no such thing as a hoop snake. No snake will bite its tail and form a hoop; it is an anatomical impossibility for their body structure. If a snake is frightened, no matter the type, it will slither away on its belly, not roll away like a wheel.
Myth #7
Hognose snakes (also called Hoggies and Puff adders) can breathe out vaporous venom that is fatal up to a distance of about 20 - 25 feet.
Truth
Hoggies don't have vaporous venom-in fact, they don't have any venom. This myth likely originated because Hoggies, when threatened, will puff up their necks like that of a cobra, and hiss wildly. However, if you were to continue bothering it, it would eventually stop with the faux cobra act and flip over onto its back, becoming limp and lifeless. They are not poisonous, they are simply cowards.
Myth #8
A snake can only bite you if it is in a springing, coiled position.
Truth
I can speak from experience that this is indeed a myth. The scar between my right index finger and thumb from a very angry Ribbon snake attests to the fact that they can strike from any position, including from the feet of an over-anxious 11-year-old.
Myth #9
Milksnakes like to sneak up on cows and suck the milk right from its source.
Truth
Wrong! They may be called Milksnakes, but they are like any other snake. Try to give it milk, and you will get a very confused, possibly amused, Milksnake.
Myth #10
Last is the myth that there are cottonmouth snakes in the New England area.
Truth
This is false. There are no cottonmouth snakes in New England. They are very prominent in the Southeaster states, but are not found in the north. What most people assume is a cottonmouth is most likely a North Water snake. These snakes look nearly identical to a cottonmouth.
You should put a followers box on here for other Blogger people like me. Nice, my brother is crazy for snakes so I know a lot about them.
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