Snakes, Facts And Falsehoods

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With its long slender body the snake is probably the funniest shaped creature you will ever encounter. There are many benefits regarding this wonderful reptile that make it a high asset to the world. It has been said that people are always afraid of what is different, afraid of what they do not know. Many of the rumored questions can be easily dispelled. From questions like what is a Thamnophis sirtalis, to where the extracting organs are located. First, let us dispel any of the rumors that are around about these guys. Despite popular belief, the snake does not swallow there young to protect them from harm; the stomach would immediately start to digest them. This myth came around from fear and adrenaline, but snakes cannot crawl faster than a human can run. The tongue of the snake is not a stinger, but actually a sensory organ. In addition, snakes are not slimy, because they do not secrete any kind of oil. Now that we have started uncovering the truth about these reptiles, we can start with some facts.

In the world today, there are about 2,500 known species of snakes belonging to more than ten families. In the U.S., there are about 127 species, with thirty-eight species found within the U.S. (including five venomous

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ones). Most people wonder what will happen to them if they do happen to encounter a snake. Will I get bitten, is it venomous, will I die, is someone going to have to suck the poison out of the wound, is it trying to kill me, should I try to kill him? A lot of things are happening at this point, more than likely the snake is just trying to defend itself. In addition, it has all the right to do so. First, you disrupted the snake, it did not disrupt you. How would you feel if A five to six foot thing with two legs and hair growing on it almost stepped on you and you were a only a half foot off the ground, you would be pretty shocked. More than likely, the snake is harmless. If by chance the snake is a venomous or dangerous snake just simply stop, and walk slowly away from it. Do not threaten it or try to kill it, just back away. With all this talk about confrontation and how to avoid the snake, it would make sense to mention what to stay on the look out for.

Snakes come in all sizes from super small and sleek to large and cumbersome. Most snakes on the other hand are an average of two to eight feet. Snake have been recorded to having reached up to thirty-six and a half feet. In addition, there are certain breeds that are found to only

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grow to one to one and a half feet. The diversity of snakes is comparable to none. The size of a snake affects the number of vertebrae that it would have. All snakes have a minimum of 100 vertebrae, some up to 400. The human body only contains thirty-two. With the ribs of a snake attached through ligaments and muscles, the snake has much more allowance for movement and expandability of the ribcage. The human body is less flexible because our bones are directly connected one another.

Some people believe that the snake is a slimy creature. This could not be any farther from the truth. "The snake's skin is made out of a hard, dry material called keratin"(Rivas 2). "Depending on the snake, it can shed every 20 days to once a year" (National Geographic 3). The reason for this is, the skin of a snake cannot expand and grow with the snake as it is maturing. When they outgrow the older skin, they form a new skin layer and shed the old one off. Snakes do put wear and tear on the skin at times to. Therefore, they may shed a layer even after the snake is done growing. If you look closely at a snake that is preparing to shed its skin, you can tell that its color has faded and the eyes are clouded over. This

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happens when the snake is growing the new layer of skin, and the older, worn layer is ready to come off. The snake will usually start to remove the skin by rubbing the nose on a rock or other rough object. When the snake is finished, the outer body is completely rid of its outer layer, including eyes, and all are replaced. The excess shedding is usually all in one piece.

Have you ever wondered why a snake sticks its tongue out, is it because it thinks you are ugly? No, what its doing is smelling, and tasting at once. "The snake continuously flicks out its forked tongue to collect scent particles from the air and the ground. When the tongue draws back into the mouth, the forked tips fit into cell-lined pockets in the Jacobson's organ, which detects the odors of the particles it receives. This system is keenly sensitive, and snakes rely on it to locate both mates and prey"(Seaworld 45). Jacobson's Organ; an extrasensory organ in the roof of a snake's mouth sharpens its sense of smell. Jacobson's organ consists of two hollow, highly sensitive saclike structures. The snake's acute odor perception allows it to track both prey and potential mates. The snake does not have eardrums and the snake is

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not designed to do a lot of hearing. However, it is found to have "low-frequency bones in their head to help sense vibrations in the water or on the ground" (Indyzoo 33). Surprisingly the snake, in general, has very good vision. This helps them to strike their prey accurately and safely. Pit vipers, boas, and pythons all use heat sensitive pits located where you would guess the nose would be. These pits give them the ability to sense heat waves in the air, put off by other animals. This sense is highly tuned and "gives the snake the ability to pick up heat fluxuations by half a degree" (Animal Planet 2).

There is a saying, "slithering like a snake" well, witch way? I bet most people do not know that the snake can move in more than one way. In fact there are four different ways a snake can move, serpentine locomotion, a simple crawl, is the most common and the fastest. The snake contracts its muscles to produce a series of waves in its body, pushing from the back of each wave to move forward. Snakes also use serpentine locomotion to swim. "In rectilinear, or caterpillar, movement, a heavy snake uses enlarged belly scales to grip the ground. A third method in which the snake pulls itself forward by bunching

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and lengthening its strong muscles in a spring like manner are useful for climbing"(Discovery.com 3). The least common kind of locomotion is that of some desert-dwelling snakes. Called side winding, this motion involves lifting a loop of the body clear of the ground