Snake notes
- 1. Snakes By Mr. “No legs” Chapman
- 2. Order: Serpentes Snakes Characteristics: 1. No eyelids, but have contact like covers called brilles. 2. No ears, but can feel vibrations through entire body. 3. Fangs that deliver venom. 4. All are carnivores
- 3. Snakes Snakes can be found every except Antarctica, Iceland, and New Zealand. Most snakes are terrestrial, but can be tree dwellers, burrows, or live in the sand.
- 4. Eye Pupils Snakes pupils can tell you when they are active. 1. A vertical pupil are found in nocturnal snakes.
- 5. Eye Pupils 2. A round pupil is found in snakes that are active during the day (Diurnal).
- 6. Hunting Snakes kill their prey by 2 methods. 1. Constriction – snake wraps its body around the prey and prevents it from breathing. 2. Venom: 2 main types – Hemotoxins – Neurotoxins
- 7. Hunting The venom does 2 things for the snake: 1. Kills the prey, so the snake does not have to chase it. 2. It begins to break down the tissue of the prey.
- 8. Hunting Snakes use their tongue to follow chemical scents using the Jacobson’s Organ. Some snakes also have heat-sensitive pits that detect the direction of the prey.
- 9. Locomotion 4 ways snakes move: 1. Serpentine Movement: body moves along in a series of curves and pushes off objects on the ground.
- 10. Locomotion 2. Concertina Movement: body coils and then grips the ground pulling the rest of the body forward.
- 11. Locomotion 3. Sidewinder: snake touches the ground at only 2 points.
- 12. Locomotion 4. Caterpillar Crawl: crawl straight forward by belly scales sliding forward catching the ground and pulling the rest of the body forward.
- 13. Facts The 2 most venomous snakes are found in Australia. 1. Desert Taipan 2. Dubois’ reef snake 0.7 ounces of their venom is fatal.