Surprising Snake Facts
Discover 10 snake facts that will change how you see these often misunderstood creatures. Let's dive into the fascinating world of snakes.
Snakes are a diverse and widely misunderstood group of animals. Mythological heavyweights, they are potent and complex symbols for humans. Many ancient cultures revere snakes as protectors and even incarnations of gods. They may be signs of fertility, rebirth, health or wisdom. Judeo-Christian cultures usually take a dimmer view of snakes, casting them as deceitful and malevolent villains. These misconceptions continue, perhaps due to their shy nature and tendency to startle us. Here are 10 facts that might help you think about snakes in new ways.
1. They are found almost everywhere.
From oceans to mountains and forests to deserts, snakes inhabit nearly every ecosystem on Earth!
2. Arizona is home to 13 different species of rattlesnake.
This is the most of any U.S. state. Did you know that Lyme disease is less prevalent when rattlesnakes are abundant?
3. Snakes can hear despite having no external ears.
Experiments have shown snakes responding to airborne sound frequencies. How they hear is still a mystery.
4. Some give live birth while others lay eggs.
Mothers of some snake species stay with their eggs or babies to protect them from predators.
5. Snakes aren't slimy!
Their ancestors evolved impermeable skin and eggshells that freed them to spend more time away from water sources. A snake’s surface is covered in dry scales, which are composed of flexible, fibrous tissue like keratin and collagen. In fact, bird feathers and mammal hair evolved from reptile scales!
6. They truly come in ALL sizes.
This ranges from Barbados threadsnakes, who weigh less than a paperclip and can coil up on a U.S. quarter, to green anacondas that can weigh over 200 lbs!
7. Pigments that color a snake’s skin run the visible spectrum of color—even into ultraviolet wavelengths!
Color patterns may serve to camouflage, confuse, gain solar heat and signal (for example, warning colors). Some species, like the Arizona black rattlesnake, can lighten and darken dramatically for reasons not well understood.
8. Of almost 4,000 known species of snake, about 600 are considered venomous.
Venoms likely evolved from digestive enzymes, becoming important for subduing prey and secondarily as a defensive aid.
9. Snakes are strictly carnivorous and eat their prey whole.
Their flexible jaw gives them the ability to swallow large prey—an important feature when only a few meals per year may be eaten.
10. Some snake species produce sound as a warning.
Rattlesnakes may be the most famous, but saw-scaled vipers make a similar sound by rubbing their scales together. Researchers in the Amazon discovered the first known snake voice: the defensive “cry” of Catesby’s snail-eater. Perhaps strangest of all, cloacal popping is a defensive “fart” produced by two Arizona species in distress—Sonoran coral snakes and Chihuahuan hook-nosed snakes.
Like other wild animals, snakes are best observed at a distance. In venomous snake country, always look where you put your body and keep an eye on pets and children. Most bites happen to those who try to move, kill, restrain or otherwise harass snakes, so be sane and refrain!
These facts were provided by reptile expert and Muleshoe Ranch Preserve Manager Jeff Smith.
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