7 jaw-dropping facts about snakes that are lesser known by humans

Snakes are long and legless animals that can be found all over the world except in places having temperatures like Antarctica. They live in many different places such as forests, deserts, and even water. Snakes move by crawling on the ground and use their tongue to smell things around them. Most snakes are not dangerous to people. Though, some kill their prey by wrapping around it to eat, while others use venom to stop it. Snakes eat animals like mice, birds, and insects. They are important for nature because they help control pests. Snakes come in many shapes, sizes, and colors and are very interesting animals. Snakes come in many different sizes from measuring a few inches long to huge ones over 20 feet with amazing colors and patterns that help them hide or warn others. These amazing features make snakes one of the most interesting and unique animals on Earth.



Amazing facts about snakes


Snakes belong to a huge family
Snakes are part of a very large and diverse family of animals. There are more than 3,000 different kinds of snakes around the world and they come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Some snakes are tiny and live in trees or underground, while others are very big and live on the ground or in water. This huge family varies from harmless snakes to the one who uses venom to protect themselves or catch food depending upon their nature. Due to the presence of snakes in large numbers on the planet, they can be found in almost every habitat from deserts to rainforests showing their varied characteristics.




Snakes are dependent on outside heat and sunlight
Snakes are cold-blooded animals which means they can’t produce their own body heat like humans, which makes them dependent on heat from the sun and their surroundings to stay warm and active. This explains why snakes spend time warming themselves in the sunlight which is to absorb its warmth that helps them move, hunt and digest food. When it’s too cold, snakes become slower and may hide to rest until they warm up again. This is why snakes depend on external heat and sunlight to survive and live their daily lives, making them “solar-powered” creatures too.




Some snakes do not lay eggs
Not all snakes lay eggs as some snake species give birth to live young ones instead. These snakes carry their babies inside their bodies until they are ready to be born. This way the babies are protected from dangers as well as from bad weather before birth. This live birth method is common in snakes that live in colder climates or places where it’s harder to keep eggs safe. This special ability helps these snakes survive in different environments around the world.





Snakes have no eyelids
Snakes do not have eyelids to blink or close their eyes. Instead, their eyes are covered by a clear and protective layer called a spectacle that acts like a built-in pair of glasses. This helps them to keep their eyes safe from injury and keeps out the dirt while they move around. As they can’t blink, snakes rely on this special covering to protect their eyes all the time. When snakes shed their skin, this clear layer is also replaced, helping to keep their eyes clean and healthy. This unique feature is one of the reasons why the eyes of snakes look shiny and bright.



Snakes use their tongue to smell
Snakes use their tongues to pick up scent particles from the air to smell. A snake collects tiny smell particles from the environment by extending its tongue and then drawing it back inside its mouth where the tongue touches a special part called the Jacobson’s organ, which helps the snake to understand the smell of the object and it also allows snakes to track food, avoid predators and find other snakes. Using their tongues to smell is a clever way for snakes to gather important information about their surroundings.





Their eating habits are unlike humans
Snakes have different eating habits as compared to humans. Unlike humans, snakes do not chew their food instead, they swallow it whole. Their jaws are very flexible which allows them to open their mouths wide enough to eat animals. Snakes also don’t eat every day and can live weeks or even months without meals, depending on how much they’ve eaten and their environment. The reason behind this fact is that snakes are cold-blooded and their metabolism is slower so they don’t need to eat as often as warm-blooded animals like humans do.




Snakes move in five different ways
Snakes don’t have legs, but they are experts at moving around using their strong muscles and flexible bodies. They use five main types of movement depending on the surface and situation:


Serpentin e (la teral undulation): This is the most common way snakes move. They create a series of S-shaped curves and push against the ground or water to glide forward smoothly.



Concertina: In tight spaces like tunnels, snakes bunch up their bodies and then stretch forward in a pushing motion.



Sidewinding: This is used mostly in sandy or slippery areas in which the snake lifts parts of its body off the ground and moves sideways, which helps it move quickly.



Rectilinear: This slow and straight movement uses muscle to pull the snake forward in a straight line. It’s often used by big snakes when they are stalking their prey. This is also called as "caterpillar movement".



Slide-pushing: The snake uses a series of pushes and slides to move which is often seen when they are climbing or moving over rough surfaces.





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