Snakes are creatures that spark fear as well as reverence. Some people love it, while others loathe it. Some say it is a symbol of evil, but others worship it. Let’s find out more about these creatures that create such varied responses among people.

The Order of Squamata

A snake is a scaly, limbless reptile that belongs to the largest reptile order called Squamata . This category of reptiles also includes lizards. Members of this group of reptiles are distinguished by their skin, which bear horny scales or shields. They also possess movable quadrate bones. In snakes, these movable quadrate bones enable them to open their mouths very wide to swallow very large prey.

Snakes can live in almost all parts of the world. They can be found in Asia, North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia.

Do they Eat Humans-s-s?

Snakes are carnivorous creatures. That means that they only consume meat and not vegetables. Most snakes do not eat humans although there have been a few cases of constrictors consuming small children in jungles. However, you do not need to be afraid. Such cases are rare!

In fact, most snakes prefer to avoid humans and will not attack humans unless provoked. Instead, snakes prefer eating smaller animals such as lizards, insects and other small mammals such as rodents, birds and the eggs of some animals. Some snakes also eat other snakes.

How do they kill?

Snakes kill their prey in one of the following three ways. Some snakes, such as Cobras, have a venomous bite which they use to kill their prey before eating it. Others such as Pythons suffocate their prey to death. Some snakes simply swallow their prey whole.

Did you know that snakes do not chew their food? As mentioned earlier, snakes have movable quadrate bones. That means that snakes have a very flexible lower jaw which is not rigidly attached to the upper jaw. Contrary to popular belief, snakes do not dislocate their lower jaws. Their flexible lower jaws simply allow them to open their mouths wide to swallow their prey whole.

Anatomy of a Snake

Eyes : Most species of snakes have bad eyesight that only allows them to detect movement.

In addition to their eyes, some snakes such as pit vipers, pythons and certain boas have infrared-sensitive receptors between the nostril and the eyes. These receptors allow them to detect radiated heat. Isn’t that cool?

Skin: Covered in scales. Smooth and dry in texture. Snakes shed their skins periodically as they grow and to remove external parasites on their skin.

Snakes shed their skin in one piece. It is similar to pulling off a sock. They rub their noses against something rough to cause a tear in the skin around the nose and mouth. Then they remove their skin.

Smell: Unlike humans, snakes smell with their tongues. They use their forked tongues to collect airborne particles, which they pass into the mouth for examination.

Hearing: Snakes have no external ears. However, they have a bone under the skin on either side of the head. This bone forces sound into the inner ear and enable the snakes to hear.

Belly: Covered with specialised scales which help the snakes to grip surfaces while they move.

Jaws: Flexible lower jaw which helps them to open their mouths wide.

Did you know that India, Greece, Italy, Vietnam and many other countries have snake festivals? In Italy, people take pictures with the snakes as souvenirs. In India, they hold competitions to see who can catch the longest snake and the heaviest snake. They also worship the snake during the festival, offering it milk, bananas and other food that a snake will fancy.