All about snakes

​Snakes are characterized by their long, limbless bodies. They are among the best-known animals of the world. Because some snakes can be dangerous and vicious, people often treat all snakes with fear. However, most kinds of snakes are harmless. Snakes belong to the group of reptiles.

T​here are a variety of snake habitats, including forests, deserts and woodlands. The largest number of snakes are found in rainforests - especially the Amazon rainforest. Some species of snakes also live in water bodies such as oceans and rivers.

What do snakes eat?

​All snakes are carnivores. Their diet depends on the species. Some eat warm-blooded prey (e.g. rodents, rabbits, birds), while others eat insects, amphibians, eggs, other reptiles, fish, earthworms, or slugs.

• 1. They have a very big family

  According to the latest count, there are 3,789 snake species, making them the second largest group of reptiles after lizards.

• 2. They are “solar-powered” and rely fully on external heat or light sources

  Snakes' body temperatures are variable and regulated by external sources. Unlike mammals and birds that are able to internally regulate their body temperature, reptiles need to use sources of heat, like the sun, to warm up.

• 3. Not all snakes lay eggs

  You might have learned in school that reptiles lay eggs. While we like to classify everything around us, nature has its own rules. While approximately 70% of snakes lay eggs, others don’t. Snakes living in especially colder climates have live births because the eggs wouldn’t survive outside.

• 4. Snakes don't have eyelids

  This means they don’t blink and have to sleep with their eyes wide open. Instead of eyelids they have a thin membrane attached to each eye to protect them.

• 5. They smell with their tongues

  Snakes do have nostrils, but they don’t use them to smell. Instead they have evolved to smell with their tongue and by using their Jacobson’s organ in the roof of their mouth. Their smell is quite excellent and has also been described as “smelling in stereo”.

• 6. Their table manners are different than ours

  When snakes are eating, they can’t help but to swallow their food whole because they can’t chew. Instead, snakes have very flexible lower jaws which allows them to eat animals who are 75% - 100% larger than their own head.