Snakes

There are more than 2,700 snakes varieties spread all over the world in temperate and warm climates; the only part of the globe where snakes cannot live is Antarctica. Snakes vary in size from a few centimeters to more than nine meters in the case of the anacondas or the pythons. Venomous snakes are far less numerous in this huge reptile family, but their toxic poison is so powerful that it could kill a human being within a few minutes. Chronological research indicates that, the history and origins of snakes go back to the Cretaceous period, some 150 million years ago, when it appears that snakes evolved from a lizard and changed their living environment.

Snakes

Primitive distinctive marks of this ancestry are still present with some snakes, this is the case with pythons and boas that still carry hind limbs remains, which only point to a past when snakes were more lizard-like than they are today. Snakes or serpents making the subject of symbolic creations and being widely illustrated in artistic form. Worshiped or hunted down as evil creatures, snakes surely have a fascination on human mind; yet, modern attitudes are partly different towards snakes under the pressure of ecologist organization that insist on the importance of these creatures for the balance of ecosystems. And they couldn’t be more right.

Fascinating details in the lives of snakes indicate that there are more things to learn about the many existing species. Thus, a study of the colored patterns on the body of snakes indicates incredible differentiation details between individuals belonging to the same family. Then, snakes’ sensitivity to vibrations, the superior sense of smell and even the reception of low frequency sounds make them pretty out of the ordinary. The same amount of scientific respect is due in terms of anatomical programing by the presence of the infrared sensitive receptors that allow pit vipers for instance to detect the warmth of the prey’s body.

Snakes

Snakes share their habitat with us, and people from areas with a higher density of snake groups and sub-groups develop skills to distinguish between the dangerous or harmless specimens, and thus they reduce the risk of snakebites. Non-venomous snakes could also bite and injure one seriously when threatened, therefore, a avoidance and respect of the snakes’ habitat remain the most effective prevention means. Do not try to kill, catch or hunt snakes: they will never come after you for the sake of just biting.