A snake is an animal of the chordate type, class Reptiles, order Squamate, suborder snakes (Serpentes). Like all reptiles, they are cold-blooded animals, so their existence depends on the ambient temperature.
Snake - description, characteristics, structure. What does a snake look like?
The body of the snake has an elongated shape and can reach a length of 10 centimeters to 9 meters, and the weight of the snake ranges from 10 grams to more than 100 kilograms. Males are smaller than females, but have a longer tail. The body shape of these reptiles varies: it can be short and thick, long and thin, and sea snakes have a flattened body that resembles a ribbon. That's why internal organs these scaly ones also have an elongated structure.
The internal organs are supported by more than 300 pairs of ribs, movably connected to the skeleton.
The snake's triangular head has jaws with elastic ligaments, which makes it possible to swallow large food.
Many snakes are venomous and use venom as a means of hunting and self-defense. Since snakes are deaf, to navigate in space, in addition to vision, they use the ability to capture vibration waves and thermal radiation.
The main information sensor is the forked tongue of the snake, which allows, with the help of special receptors inside the palate, to “collect information” about environment. Snake eyelids are fused transparent films, scales covering the eyes, therefore snakes don't blink and even sleep with their eyes open.
The skin of snakes is covered with scales, the number and shape of which depends on the type of reptile. Once every six months, the snake sheds its old skin - this process is called molting.
By the way, the color of the snake can be monochromatic in species living in temperate zone, and variegated among representatives of the tropics. The pattern can be longitudinal, transversely circular or spotted.
Types of snakes, names and photographs
Today, scientists know more than 3,460 species of snakes living on the planet, among which the most famous are adders, vipers, sea snakes, snakes (not dangerous to humans), pit snakes, pseudopods with both lungs, as well as rudimentary remains of the pelvic bones and hind limbs.
Let's look at several representatives of the snake suborder:
- King cobra (hamadryad) ( Ophiophagus hannah)
The most gigantic poisonous snake on earth. Some representatives grow up to 5.5 m, although the average size of adults usually does not exceed 3-4 m. King cobra venom is a lethal neurotoxin, causing death in 15 minutes. Scientific name King cobra literally means “snake eater”, because it is the only species whose representatives feed on snakes of their own kind. Females have an exceptional maternal instinct, constantly guarding the clutch of eggs and completely going without food for up to 3 months. The king cobra lives in the tropical forests of India, the Philippines and the islands of Indonesia. Life expectancy is more than 30 years.
- Black Mamba ( Dendroaspis polylepis)
The African venomous snake, growing up to 3 m, is one of the fastest snakes, capable of moving at a speed of 11 km/h. The highly toxic snake venom causes death in a matter of minutes, although the black mamba is not aggressive and attacks humans only in self-defense. Representatives of the black mamba species received their name due to the black coloration of the oral cavity. The snake's skin is usually olive, green or brown in color with a metallic sheen. It eats small rodents, birds and bats.
- Fierce snake (desert taipan) ( Oxyuranus microlepidotus)
The most poisonous of land snakes, the venom of which is 180 times stronger than that of a cobra. This species of snake is common in the deserts and dry plains of Australia. Representatives of the species reach a length of 2.5 m. The color of the skin changes depending on the season: in extreme heat it is straw-colored, when it gets colder it becomes dark brown.
- Gaboon viper (cassava) ( Bitis gabonica)
The poisonous snake that lives in African savannas is one of the largest and thickest vipers, up to 2 m long and with a body girth of almost 0.5 m. All individuals belonging to this species, have a characteristic head, triangular shape with small horns located between the nostrils. The Gaboon viper has a calm character, rarely attacking people. It belongs to the type of viviparous snakes, breeds once every 2-3 years, bringing from 24 to 60 offspring.
- Anaconda ( Eunectes murinus)
The giant (ordinary, green) anaconda belongs to the subfamily of boa constrictors; in former times the snake was called a water boa constrictor. The massive body, 5 to 11 m long, can weigh over 100 kg. The non-venomous reptile is found in low-flow rivers, lakes and creeks of the tropical part of South America, from Venezuela to the island of Trinidad. It feeds on iguanas, caimans, waterfowl and fish.
- Python ( Pythonidae)
The representative of the family is not poisonous snakes It is distinguished by its gigantic dimensions from 1 to 7.5 m in length, and female pythons are much larger and more powerful than males. The range extends throughout the eastern hemisphere: rainforests, swamps and savannas of the African continent, Australia and Asia. The diet of pythons consists of small and medium-sized mammals. Adults swallow leopards, jackals and porcupines whole, and then digest them for a long time. Female pythons lay eggs and incubate the clutch, by contracting muscles, increasing the temperature in the nest by 15 -17 degrees.
- African egg snakes (egg eaters) ( Dasypeltis scabra)
Representatives of the snake family that feed exclusively on bird eggs. They live in savannas and woodlands of the equatorial part of the African continent. Individuals of both sexes grow no more than 1 meter in length. The movable bones of the snake's skull make it possible to open its mouth wide and swallow very large eggs. In this case, the elongated cervical vertebrae pass through the esophagus and, like a can opener, rip open eggshells, after which the contents flow into the stomach, and the shell is coughed up.
- Radiant snake ( Xenopeltis unicolor)
Non-venomous snakes, the length of which in rare cases reaches 1 m. The reptile received its name for the rainbow tint of its scales, which have dark brown color. Burrowing snakes live in the loose soils of forests, cultivated fields and gardens in Indonesia, Borneo, the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and China. As feed objects They use small rodents and lizards.
- Worm-like blind snake ( Typhlops vermicularis)
Small snakes, up to 38 cm long, resemble earthworms in appearance. Absolutely harmless representatives can be found under stones, melons and watermelons, as well as in thickets of bushes and on dry rocky slopes. They feed on beetles, caterpillars, ants and their larvae. The distribution area extends from the Balkan Peninsula to the Caucasus, Central Asia and Afghanistan. Russian representatives of this species of snake live in Dagestan.
Where do snakes live?
The distribution range of snakes does not include only Antarctica, New Zealand and the islands of Ireland. Many of them live in tropical latitudes. In nature, snakes live in forests, steppes, swamps, hot deserts and even in the ocean. Reptiles lead an active lifestyle both during the day and at night. Species living in temperate latitudes winter time hibernate.
What do snakes eat in nature?
Almost all snakes are predators, with the exception of the Mexican herbivorous snake. Reptiles may only eat a few times a year. Some snakes feed on large and small rodents or amphibians, while others prefer bird eggs. The diet of sea snakes includes fish. There is even a snake that eats snakes: the king cobra can eat members of its own family. All snakes easily move on any surface, bending their body in waves; they can swim and “fly” from tree to tree, contracting their muscles.
Breeding snakes. How do snakes reproduce?
Despite the fact that snakes are solitary individuals by way of life, during the mating period they become quite sociable and “loving.” The mating dance of two snakes of different sexes is sometimes so surprising and interesting that it definitely captivates attention. The male snake is ready to hover around his “chosen one” for hours, seeking her consent to fertilization. Reptiles of the snake order are oviparous, and some snakes are capable of giving birth to live young. The size of a snake's clutch varies from 10 to 120,000 eggs, depending on the type of snake and its habitat.
Having reached sexual maturity at two years of age, snakes begin to mate. The male searches for his “lady” by smell, wraps his body around the female’s neck, rising high above the surface of the earth. By the way, at this time even non-poisonous individuals can be very aggressive due to excitement and excitement.
Mating of snakes occurs in a ball, but immediately after this the pair disperses and never meet again. The snake's parents do not show any interest in newborn babies.
The snake tries to make its clutch in the most secluded place possible: plant roots, crevices in stones, rotten stumps - every quiet corner is important for the future “mother”. The laid eggs develop quite quickly - in just one and a half to two months. Newly born snakes and baby snakes are absolutely independent, poisonous individuals have poison, but these babies can only hunt small insects. Reptiles reach sexual maturity in the second year of life. The average lifespan of a snake reaches 30 years.
What is snake venom? This is saliva produced salivary glands poisonous individuals. Her healing properties known for hundreds of years: with the addition of snake venom, pharmacists make homeopathic preparations, creams, ointments and balms. These remedies help with rheumatic joint diseases and osteochondrosis. However, face poisonous bite This reptile in nature can be not only unpleasant and very painful, but also deadly.
What to do if bitten by a snake? First aid
- If you have been bitten by a snake, and you do not know whether it was poisonous or non-poisonous, in any case you should remove the snake's saliva from the micro-wound! You can suck out and quickly spit out the poison, you can squeeze it out, but all these manipulations will be effective only for the first one to one and a half minutes after the bite.
- The person who has been bitten definitely needs to be urgently taken to a medical facility (hospital).
- At the same time, it is advisable to visually remember what the snake looked like, because its belonging to a certain species is most important for doctors who will prescribe anti-snake serum to the victim.
- If a limb (arm, leg) is bitten, then there is no need to tighten it: this manipulation does not localize the spread of the snake’s venom, but may well lead to toxic asphyxia of the affected tissues.
- Never panic! An increased heart rate due to excitement accelerates blood circulation throughout the body, thereby facilitating the spread of snake venom throughout the body.
- Provide the bitten person with absolute rest, warm fluids, and take him to professional medical professionals as soon as possible.
There are about three thousand snakes on earth. They belong to the squamate order and love to live in warm climates. Many, walking through the forest in an area where snakes can live, wonder if they can see us? Or should we look at our feet so as not to disturb the reptile? The fact is that among the diversity in the animal world, only the eyes of a snake are capable of determining shades and colors, but their visual acuity is weak. For a snake, vision is, of course, important, but not as important as smell. In ancient times, people paid attention to the snake's eye, considering it cold and hypnotic.
How does a snake's eye work?
Reptiles have very dull eyes. This is because they are covered with a film that changes during molting along with the rest of the skin. Because of this, snakes have poor visual acuity. As soon as reptiles shed their skin, their visual acuity immediately increases. During this period they see best. They feel this way for several months.
Most people believe that all snakes are poisonous without exception. This is wrong. Most species are completely harmless. Poisonous reptiles use poison only in case of danger and when hunting. It occurs both during the day and at night. Depending on this, the pupil changes its shape. So, during the day it is round, and at night it is stretched into a gap. There are whip snakes with an inverted keyhole pupil. Each eye is capable of forming an entire picture of the world.
For snakes, the main organ is the sense of smell. They use it as thermolocation. So, in complete silence, they feel the heat generated by a possible victim and indicate its location. Not poisonous species they pounce on their prey and strangle it, some of them begin to swallow it alive. It all depends on the size of the reptile itself and its prey. On average, the body of a snake is about one meter. There are both small and large species. Directing their gaze at the victim, they focus it. At this time, their tongue picks up the slightest odors in space.
Thermal locators of a different design have recently been studied in snakes. This discovery is worth telling in more detail.
In the east of the USSR, from the Caspian Trans-Volga region and the Central Asian steppes to Transbaikalia and the Ussuri taiga, there are small poisonous snakes, nicknamed copperheads: their heads are covered on top not with small scales, but with large shields.
People who have looked at copperheads up close claim that these snakes seem to have four nostrils. In any case, on the sides of the head (between the real nostril and the eye) two large (larger than the nostril) and deep pits are clearly visible in copperheads.
Cottonmouths are close relatives of America's rattlesnakes, which locals sometimes call quartonarians, that is, four-nosed snakes. This means that rattlesnakes also have strange pits on their faces.
Zoologists combine all snakes with four “nostrils” into one family, the so-called crotalids, or pitheads. Pit snakes are found in America (North and South) and Asia. In their structure they are similar to vipers, but differ from them in the mentioned pits on the head.
For more than two hundred years, scientists have been solving nature's puzzle, trying to establish what role these pits play in the life of snakes. What assumptions were made!
They thought that these were organs of smell, touch, hearing amplifiers, glands that secrete lubricant for the cornea of the eyes, detectors of subtle air vibrations (like the lateral line of fish) and, finally, even air blowers that deliver oxygen to the oral cavity, supposedly necessary for the formation of poison.
Thorough research by anatomists thirty years ago showed that the facial pits of rattlesnakes are not connected to the ears, eyes, or
any other known organs. They are depressions in the upper jaw. Each pit at a certain depth from the inlet is divided by a transverse partition (membrane) into two chambers - internal and external.
The external chamber lies in front and opens outward with a wide funnel-shaped opening, between the eye and nostril (in the area of the auditory scales). The rear (inner) camera is completely closed. Only later was it possible to notice that it communicates with the external environment through a narrow and long channel, which opens on the surface of the head near the anterior corner of the eye with an almost microscopic pore. However, the size of the pore, when necessary, can apparently increase significantly: the opening is equipped with an annular closing muscle.
The partition (membrane) separating both chambers is very thin (about 0.025 millimeters thick). Dense interweaving of nerve endings penetrates it in all directions.
Undoubtedly, the facial pits represent organs of some senses. But which ones?
In 1937, two American scientists, D. Noble and A. Schmidt, published a large work in which they reported the results of their many years of experiments. They managed to prove, the authors argued, that the facial pits are thermolocators! They capture heat rays and determine by their direction the location of the heated body emitting these rays.
D. Noble and A. Schmidt experimented with rattlesnakes artificially deprived of all known to science sense organs. Electric light bulbs wrapped in black paper were brought to the snakes. While the lamps were cold, the snakes did not pay any attention to them. But when the light bulb got hot, the snake immediately felt it. She raised her head and became wary. The light bulb was brought even closer. The snake made a lightning-fast throw and bit the warm “victim.” I didn’t see her, but she bit her accurately, without missing a beat.
Experimenters have found that snakes detect heated objects whose temperature is at least 0.2 degrees Celsius higher than the surrounding air (if they are brought closer to the muzzle itself). Warmer objects are recognized at a distance of up to 35 centimeters.
In a cold room, thermolocators work more accurately. They are apparently adapted for night hunting. With their help, the snake searches for small warm-blooded animals and birds. It is not the smell, but the warmth of the body that gives away the victim! Snakes have poor vision and sense of smell and completely unimportant hearing. A new, very special feeling came to their aid - thermal location.
In the experiments of D. Noble and A. Schmidt, the indicator that the snake had found a warm light bulb was its throwing. But the snake, of course, even before it rushed to attack, already felt the approach of a warm object. This means that we need to find some other, more accurate signs by which one could judge the subtlety of the snake’s thermolocation sense.
American physiologists T. Bullock and R. Cowles conducted more thorough studies in 1952. As a signal notifying that an object was detected by the snake's thermolocator, they chose not the reaction of the snake's head, but a change in biocurrents in the nerve serving the facial fossa.
It is known that all processes of excitation in the body of animals (and humans) are accompanied by those occurring in the muscles and nerves. electric currents. Their voltage is low - usually hundredths of a volt. These are the so-called “biocurrents of excitation”. Biocurrents are easy to detect using electrical measuring instruments.
T. Bullock and R. Cowles anesthetized snakes by injecting a certain dose of curare poison. We cleared one of the nerves branching in the membrane of the facial fossa from muscles and other tissues, brought it out and pressed it between the contacts of a device that measures biocurrents. Then the facial pits were subjected to various influences: they were illuminated with light (without infrared rays), strong-smelling substances were brought close to them, and they were irritated with strong sound, vibration, and pinches. The nerve did not react: biocurrents did not arise.
But as soon as a heated object, even just a human hand (at a distance of 30 centimeters), was brought closer to the snake’s head, excitement arose in the nerve - the device recorded biocurrents.
They illuminated the pits with infrared rays - the nerve became even more excited. The weakest reaction of the nerve was detected when it was irradiated with infrared rays with a wavelength of about 0.001 millimeters. As the wavelength increased, the nerve became more excited. The greatest reaction was caused by the longest wavelength infrared rays (0.01 - 0.015 millimeters), that is, those rays that carry the maximum thermal energy emitted by the body of warm-blooded animals.
It also turned out that the thermolocators of rattlesnakes detect not only objects that are warmer, but even colder than the surrounding air. It is only important that the temperature of this object is at least a few tenths of a degree higher or lower than the surrounding air.
The funnel-shaped openings of the facial fossae are directed obliquely forward. Therefore, the thermolocator's coverage area lies in front of the snake's head. Up from the horizontal it occupies a sector of 45 degrees, and downward - 35 degrees. To the right and left of the longitudinal axis of the snake’s body, the field of action of the thermolocator is limited to an angle of 10 degrees.
Physical principle, on which the thermolocators of snakes are based, is completely different from that of squids.
Most likely, in the thermoscopic eyes of squids, the perception of a heat-emitting object is achieved through photochemical reactions. Processes of the same type probably occur here as on the retina of an ordinary eye or on a photographic plate at the time of exposure. The energy absorbed by the organ leads to the recombination of light-sensitive (in squids, heat-sensitive) molecules, which act on the nerve, causing the brain to imagine the observed object.
Snake thermal locators They act differently - on the principle of a kind of thermoelement. The thinnest membrane separating the two chambers of the facial fossa is exposed from different sides to two different temperatures. The internal chamber communicates with the external environment through a narrow channel, the inlet of which opens in the opposite direction from the working field of the locator.
Therefore, the ambient air temperature is maintained in the inner chamber (neutral level indicator!) The outer chamber is directed towards the object under study with a wide opening - a heat trap. The heat rays it emits heat the front wall of the membrane. Based on the temperature difference on the inner and outer surfaces of the membrane, which are simultaneously perceived by the nerves in the brain, the sensation of radiating thermal energy subject.
In addition to pit snakes, thermolocation organs have been found in pythons and boas (in the form of small pits on the lips). The small pits located above the nostrils of the African, Persian and some other species of vipers apparently serve the same purpose.
We are limited by our own ideas. The perception of reality occurs due to the function of various organs, and only a few people understand that this is a rather limited vision. Maybe we see a very dim version of true reality because our senses are imperfect. In fact, we cannot see the world through the eyes of other life forms. But thanks to science, we can get closer. By studying, you can discover how the eyes of other animals are built and how they function. For example, comparing with our vision, identifying the number of cones and rods or the shape of their eyes or pupils. And this will at least somehow bring us closer to that world that we have not identified.
How do birds see?
Birds have four types of cones, or so-called light-sensitive receptors, while humans have only three. And the field of view reaches up to 360%, if compared with a person, then it is equal to 168%. This allows birds to visualize the world from a completely different perspective and much richer than the perception of human vision. Most birds can also see in the ultraviolet spectrum. The need for such vision arises when they get their food. Berries and other fruits have a waxy coating that reflects ultraviolet color, making them stand out against green foliage. Some insects also reflect ultraviolet light, giving birds a distinct advantage.
On the left is how a bird sees our world, on the right is a person.
How insects see
Insects have a complex eye structure, consisting of thousands of lenses, forming a surface similar to a soccer ball; in which each lens is one “pixel”. Like us, insects have three light-sensitive receptors. All insects have different perceptions of color. For example, some of them, butterflies and bees, can see in the ultraviolet spectrum, where the wavelength of light varies between 700 hm and 1 mm. The ability to see ultraviolet color allows bees to see patterns on petals that guide them to pollen. Red is the only color that is not perceived as a color by bees. Therefore, pure red flowers are rarely found in nature. Another amazing fact- the bee cannot close its eyes, and therefore sleeps with its eyes open.
On the left is how a bee sees our world, on the right is a person. Did you know? Praying mantises and dragonflies have the most a large number of lenses and this figure reaches 30,000.
How dogs see
Relying on outdated data, many still believe that dogs see the world in black and white, but this erroneous opinion. More recently, scientists have discovered that dogs have color vision, just like humans, but it is different. There are fewer cones in the retina compared to the human eye. They are responsible for color perception. A feature of vision is the absence of cones that recognize the color red, so they cannot distinguish shades between yellow-green and orange-red colors. This is similar to color blindness in humans. Due to the larger number of rods, dogs are able to see in the dark five times better than us. Another feature of vision is the ability to determine distance, which greatly helps them in hunting. But at close range they see blurry, they need a distance of 40 cm in order to see an object.
Comparison of how a dog and a person see.
How cats see
Cats cannot focus on small details, so they see the world a little blurry. It is much easier for them to perceive an object in motion. But the opinion that cats are able to see in absolute darkness has not been confirmed by scientific research, although in the dark they see much better than during the day. The presence of a third eyelid in cats helps them get through bushes and grass while hunting; it wets the surface and protects it from dust and damage. You can see it closely when the cat is half dozing and the film peeks out through half-closed eyes. Another feature of cat vision is the ability to distinguish colors. For example, the main colors are blue, green, gray, but white and yellow can be confused.
How do snakes see?
Visual acuity, like other animals, snakes do not shine, since their eyes are covered with a thin film, due to which visibility is cloudy. When a snake sheds its skin, the film comes off along with it, which makes the snake’s vision during this period especially clear and sharp. The shape of the snake's pupil can change depending on the hunting pattern. For example, in night snakes it is vertical, and in day snakes round shape. Whip snakes have the most unusual eyes. Their eyes are somewhat reminiscent of a keyhole. Because of this unusual structure of the eyes, the snake skillfully uses its binocular vision - that is, each eye forms a complete picture of the world. The snake's eyes can perceive infrared radiation. True, they “see” thermal radiation not with their eyes, but with special heat-sensitive organs.
How do crustaceans see?
Shrimp and crabs, which also have compound eyes, have a feature that is not fully understood - they see very small details. Those. their vision is quite rough, and it is difficult for them to see anything at a distance of more than 20 cm. However, they recognize movement very well.
It is not known why the mantis crab needs vision superior to other crustaceans, but this is how it developed in the process of evolution. It is believed that mantis crayfish have the most complex color perception - they have 12 types of visual receptors (humans have only 3). These visual receptors are located on 6 rows of various ommatidia receptors. They allow cancer to perceive circularly polarized light as well as hyperspectral color.
How do monkeys see?
Apes have trichromatic color vision. The duruculi, which lead a nocturnal life, have a monochromatic one - with this it is better to navigate in the dark. The vision of monkeys is determined by their lifestyle and diet. Monkeys distinguish between edible and inedible by color, recognize the degree of ripeness of fruits and berries, and avoid poisonous plants.
How horses and zebras see
Horses are large animals, so they need a wide range of vision. They have excellent peripheral vision, which allows them to see almost everything around them. This is why their eyes are directed to the sides, and not straight like humans. But this also means that they have a blind spot in front of their nose. And they always see everything in two parts. Zebras and horses see better at night than humans, but they see mostly in shades of gray.
How do fish see?
Each type of fish sees differently. For example, sharks. It seems that a shark's eye is very similar to a human's, but it acts completely differently. Sharks are color blind. The shark has an additional reflective layer behind the retina, giving it incredible visual acuity. A shark sees 10 times better than a human in clear water.
Speaking in general about fish. Basically, fish are not able to see further than 12 meters. They begin to distinguish objects at a distance of two meters from them. Fish do not have eyelids, but nevertheless, they are protected by a special film. Another feature of vision is the ability to see beyond the water. Therefore, fishermen are not recommended to wear bright clothes, which can scare them away.
Snakes are one of the most mysterious inhabitants of our planet. Primitive hunters, when meeting any snake, hurried to escape from it, knowing that just one bite could doom them to death. Fear helped avoid being bitten, but prevented us from learning more about these mysterious creatures. And where precise knowledge was lacking, the gaps were filled by fantasies and conjectures, which became more and more sophisticated over the centuries. And, despite the fact that many of these reptiles have already been quite well studied, old rumors and legends about snakes, passed down from generation to generation, still dominate the minds of people. To somehow break this vicious circle, we have collected 10 of the most common myths about snakes and refuted them.
Snakes drink milk
This myth became known to many of us thanks to Conan Doyle’s “The Speckled Band.” In fact, trying to feed a snake milk can be fatal: they do not digest lactose at all.
When attacking, snakes sting
For unknown reasons, many people believe that snakes sting with their sharp, forked tongue. Snakes bite with their teeth, like all other animals. Language serves them for completely different purposes.
Before throwing, snakes stick out their tongues threateningly.
As already stated, a snake's tongue is not intended to attack. The fact is that snakes do not have a nose, and all the necessary receptors are located on their tongue. Therefore, in order to better smell the scent of prey and determine its location, snakes have to stick out their tongues.
Most snakes are poisonous
Of the two and a half thousand species of snakes known to serpentologists, only 400 have poisonous teeth. Of these, only 9 are found in Europe. Most poisonous snakes in South America– 72 species. The rest are almost equally distributed across Australia, Central Africa, Southeast Asia, Central and North America.
You can “safety” a snake by pulling out its teeth
This might actually work for a while. But the teeth will grow back, and the snake during the period of their growth, not being able to express the venom, can become seriously ill. And by the way, it is impossible to train a snake - for them, any person is nothing more than just a warm tree.
Snakes always attack when they see people
Statistics show that most often snakes bite people in self-defense. If a snake hisses and makes threatening movements when it sees you, it means it just wants to be left alone. As soon as you retreat a little, the snake will immediately disappear from view, rushing to save its life.
Snakes can be fed meat
Most snakes eat rodents, but there are species that eat frogs and fish and even insectivorous reptiles. A king cobras, for example, they prefer to eat only snakes of other species. So, what exactly to feed the snake depends only on the snake itself.
Snakes are cold to the touch
Snakes are typical representatives of cold-blooded animals. And therefore the body temperature of the snake will be the same as the temperature of the external environment. Therefore, without being able to support optimal temperature bodies (just above 30 ° C), snakes love to bask in the sun.
Snakes covered in mucus
Another story that has nothing to do with snakes. The skin of these reptiles contains virtually no glands and is covered with dense, smooth scales. It is from this pleasant-to-touch snake skin that shoes, handbags and even clothes are made.
