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Snake Facts
By OnTopic | January 17, 2010
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. Poisonous snakes are a minority in this incredibly large 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 are lost in the Cretaceous period, some 150 million years ago, when snakes are assumed to have evolved from a lizard and changed their living environment.
Primitive distinctive marks of this ancestry are still present with some snakes, this is the case with pythons and boas that still carry vestiges of hind limbs, which only make us think of a past when snakes were more lizard-like than they are today. Snakes or serpents making the subject of symbolic creations and being widely represented in artistic form. Mankind hunted down or worshiped snakes throughout its history; yet, modern attitudes have changed towards snakes particularly under the emphasis of the ecological movements that stress out the importance of these creatures for the environment of the planet. 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, it is interesting to study how the patterns on the body of snakes differentiate between individuals even within the same species. Then, snakes’ response to vibrations, the incredible sense of smell and even the reception of low frequency sounds indicate the fact that snakes are fascinating. Infrared sensitivity and the ability to detect body warmth from the distance, causes further awe among snakes researchers.
Common habitats for humans and snakes are a reality, and people from areas with a higher density of snake species and sub-species should learn to distinguish between the dangerous or harmless specimens, and thus they reduce the risk of snakebites. Non-venomous snakes are not that friendly when sensing danger, therefore, a avoidance and respect of the snakes’ habitat remain the most effective prevention means. Do not try to catch, hunt or kill snakes: they will never come after you for the sake of just biting. Be extremely cautious when keeping snakes as pets.
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