How much do you know about snakes? Here’s a collection of web sites that will help you learn more about these long, limbless, flexible reptiles. Don’t worry, this page won’t bite.
1. Is the creature pictured below a worm?
http://www.amonline.net.au/wild_kids/reptiles/blind_snake.htm
Answer. No, it is actually a blind snake that doesn’t bite. But it might try to jab you with a tiny barb in itstail. Image from http://www.kingsnake.com/
2. Yes or no: Do snakes have eyelids?
http://www.icon.co.za/~mvdmerwe/snake_fc.htm
Answer: No. Instead, they have clear scales that protect their eyeballs from getting scratched.
3. How many kinds of posionious snakes are there?
http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/snakes.html
Answer: There are about 2,700 species of snakes, of these 375 are venomous. In the United States, sevenspecies are listed as endangered.
4. Can snakes fly?
http://ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/paradise_tree-snake.htm
Answer: There is a type of snake, the paradise tree-snake of South-East Asia, that can glide from tree to treeby flattening its body and springing off of a branch.
5. Can a snake kill an elephant?
http://www.antiguanracer.org/html/racer/snakef.htm
Answer: Yes. The venom of the king cobra, the world’s largest poisonous snake, is strong enough to kill an elephant.
6. Can you name three ways that snakes move?
http://www.columbusszoo.org/animalareas/reptiles/snakfact.html
Answer: The three most popular way that a snake travels are sidewinding, concertina movement and caterpillar movement.
7. What is the longest snake in the entire world? How long is it?
http://www.extremescience.com/BiggestSnake.htm
Answer: Beleive it or not, but somewhere out there is a snake that is 33 feet long, and it is a python.
While that is impressive, the anaconda, found in the jungles of South America is fatter. It can weigh a
much as a grown man!
8. What animal is the biggest predator of snakes?
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/snakes/sfacts.htm
Answer: Herons, hawks, foxes, raccoons and bears all enjoy a tasty snake snack, but according to the NovScotia museum, the biggest predator of snakes is the domestic cat.
9. Are there poisonous snakes in my backyard?
http://www.backyardnature.net/snakes.htm
According to natralist Jim Conrad, if you live in the United States, the chance of having a poisonous snake in your yard is very remote, unless you live near a natural or wooded area. Even if you see a snake, it probably won’t be venomous.
