What’s good about snakes? It is commonly believed to have several negative qualities. So, what if I tell you that they have been misjudged? We fear what we do not know and what we do not like.
World Snake Day recommends that you get rid of these prejudices. Animals are never mean or ugly — they have a place in the world’s ecosystem. Learn more about snakes and find out how much they contribute to the world.
Did you know?
Approximately, 3,458 species of snakes exist. And they are found anywhere between the semi-frozen Tundras of northern Canada to the steamy jungles of the equator and most of the world’s oceans.
They are known to be highly effective predators and play a vital role in maintaining nature’s balance.
The word snake is from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to crawl, creeping thing”.
World Snake Day is celebrated by wildlife enthusiasts the world over. It is to ensure conservation of a sometimes dangerous but mostly misrepresented reptile.
So, how does one celebrate World Snake Day? To begin with you can find out more about snakes.
For example, where do snakes live? What do they eat? What behaviour do they exhibit? How do they defend themselves? Why are some snakes endangered?
Or, you could take pictures and try to identify the snakes.
Hiss Hiss
Snakes live everywhere on Earth except in Ireland, Iceland, New Zealand, and the North and South Poles.
Of the approximately 725 species of venomous snakes worldwide, 250 can kill a human with a bite.
The heaviest snake in the world is the anaconda. It weighs over 595 pounds (270 kg) and can grow to over 30 feet long. It has been known to eat caimans, capybaras, and jaguars
The most advanced snake species in the world is believed to be the black mamba. It has the most highly evolved venom delivery system of any snake on Earth. It can strike up to 12 times in a row, though just one bite is enough to kill a grown man
The inland taipan is the world’s most toxic snake, meaning it has both the most toxic venom and it injects the most venom when it bites. Its venom sacs hold enough poison to kill up to 80 people
Snakes scales are made up of keratin, which is the same thing that our fingernails are made from
The biggest snake is the Reticulated Python. It can grow up to 10.05 m or 33 feet long!
The thread snake is the smallest snake. It is only about 10 cm the size of a toothpick.
