10 Fascinating Facts about Snakes

 

Belonging to class reptilians and with the scientific name Serpentes, snakes can evoke fear and fascination at the same time. They come in many sizes, shapes, and colors and live in nearly every corner of the globe except Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand. 

However, do you know there are some really amazing aspects of snakes that may surprise you? Let’s explore the top 10 facts about snakes that will undoubtedly alter your perception of them.

10 Fascinating Facts about Snakes 

1: There Are Over 3,700 Snake Species

These limbless reptiles, of which there are over 3,700 species worldwide, rule over a variety of environments, including dry deserts and tropical rainforests. With 4038 species in total, snakes are the second biggest category of reptiles after lizards, according to the most recent count. With sizes ranging from the tiny Barbados thread snake to the enormous reticulated python, snakes are remarkably diverse in terms of size, color, and preferred environment.

Every new discovery, like as the Phalotris Shawnella found in Paraguay in 2022 or the newly found green anaconda species in the Amazon in 2024, demonstrates the unending wonders of nature by showing the continuous rise in the number of snake species.

2: Snakes Smell with Their Tongues

Yes, snakes have a distinct sense of smell even if they have noses. They detect smells using their mouths. A snake's tongue flicks into the air, catching microscopic chemical particles that are subsequently carried back into the mouth and come into contact with the Jacobson's or vomeronasal organ. Whether they be soil, vegetation, or other creatures, this organ aids the snake in identifying those particles.

Snakes detect predators or locate their next meal using their tongues. Therefore, in addition to tasting, their tongues are used to detect vital information about their environment.

3: Some Snakes Can Fly

The genus Chrysopelea, sometimes referred to as the "flying snake," is a member of the Colubridae family and is distributed across Southeast Asia and the Indonesian Archipelago. In contrast to their moniker, they glide elegantly in the air from trees, reaching altitudes of up to 300 feet.

Because of their low level of venom, the flying snakes are not dangerous to people. Rather, they render little victims unconscious with their poison. Being the only limbless animals known to be able to do such aerodynamic feats—gliding through the trees with ease—makes them exceptional.

4: Snakes Hear With Their Jaw

Even though they don't have external ears or internal ear drums, snakes are fully hearing. Their jawbone is connected to their cochlea, which is in charge of hearing. So, as we walk by a resting snake, the vibrations from our footfall excite its jaw, transferring signals to the cochlea and subsequently to. The snake can now sense movements, even those of possible prey, thanks to this.

Furthermore, because their jaws can unhinge on their own, snakes may be able to hear in stereo, which improves their sense of where noises are. Snakes are capable of perceiving vibrations in the range of 50 to 1,000 Hertz. But the range of frequencies that people can normally hear is between 20 and 20,000 Hertz.

5: Some Snakes Live in the Sea

There are over 60 species of sea snakes, which are members of the cobra family and dwell in the ocean. They are not suited for living on land, in contrast to terrestrial snakes. Their morphology is optimized for swimming, not land crawling. 

When they come into contact with land, they are flimsy and sluggish.
Sea snakes prefer the water, yet they may travel short distances on land. Sea snakes are therefore really marine organisms, even though they belong to the same family as terrestrial snakes. Additionally, because they are not aggressive and release little venom, these snakes do not pose a threat to human life.

6: Snakes Are Solar-Powered

It is true, indeed! Snakes get their energy from the sun, much like solar panels do. They absorb heat from the sun's warm rays, which is essential for bodily activities. They grow lethargic without sunlight, like a dead battery.

Solar energy is necessary for digestion as well as for their comfort. Snakes hibernate in harsh climates, such as the bitterly cold winters of Colorado, to save energy until the sun comes out again. Their life depends on this cycle driven by solar energy. Thus, keep in mind that a snake is replenishing its entire system when you watch it basking in the sun.

7: Snakes are Carnivores

Snakes only consume flesh; they are true carnivores. But the food they eat differs according to the species. Some eat warm-blooded animals like as rabbits, birds, and rodents, while others are more interested in insects, amphibians (such as frogs and toads), or even eggs.

While some snakes hunt other reptiles, others obtain their food by fishing. They swallow their food whole rather than chewing them. Moreover, neither plants nor snakes have the digestive system bacteria necessary to break down plants and provide enough energy for snakes to survive. Thus, to survive, snakes must satisfy their carnivorous desire, whether it is by chowing down on a mouse or a frog.

8: Not All Snakes Lay Eggs

Although it's a widely held misconception, not all snakes lay eggs. Most snakes lay eggs, around 70% of them; the remainder, especially those found in colder climates, give birth to young. These snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning that they store their eggs inside of them until they hatch. The eggs are shielded from hostile environments where they would not survive by using this reproductive technique.

Therefore, despite the common belief that reptiles lay eggs, certain snakes adapt to their surroundings by giving birth to live young instead of eggs.

9: Snakes Don’t Have Eyelids

Snakes have no eyelids, in contrast to humans. Rather, they possess a unique adaption known as the "brille," a membrane that functions as eyeglasses. They are shielded from harm by this thin barrier without having to blink.

Because snakes don't have eyelids, they sleep with their eyes wide open. This enables snakes to be aware of their environment even when they are at rest. Thus, while it may seem odd to us to think about sleeping with our eyes open, snakes do so naturally as a function of their special biology.

10: Snakes Can Change their Skin

As they grow out of their skin and remove any parasites that may be attached, snakes shed their skin. Snakes' skin does not elongate with their size like that of humans. They have to remove their skin when it grows too tight.

Snakes, in contrast to other animals, lose their skin in its entirety when it gets too small or worn out. This special capacity aids snakes in preserving their health and adjusting to their ever-changing bodies.

Conclusion

Snakes are incredibly intriguing animals with distinctive characteristics that make them stand out in the animal realm. Snakes never cease to amaze us, from their many species to their amazing senses of vibration that they sense with their jawbones. We remain amazed by the plethora of additional information regarding snakes, a few of which were already covered. The world of snakes appears to have no limit to exploration, and each time we go deeper, we learn something new that only increases our appreciation for these amazing animals.