Snakes 101
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Snakes are reptiles that lack limbs and have long, slender bodies covered in scales. They have forked tongues and shed their skin periodically. There are over 2,500 snake species worldwide, with most being non-venomous. Snakes are carnivorous and eat a variety of small animals whole using flexible jaws. They move through lateral undulation or sidewinding and come in many types across different families, some being venomous like cobras and rattlesnakes while others like pythons are not.
Snakes 101
- 1. Snakes 101Miss Hartline&Mr. Barrett
- 2. What technically is a snake?A reptile. Characteristics- Long, legless body covered in scales. Snakes also have long forked tongues, no external ear openings and eyelids. Can be venomous.Periodically will shed their skin. This is done to replace old skin and rid itself of parasites.
- 4. DietSnakes are all carnivorous.They eat a variety of animals including small birds, lizards, other snakes, mammals, fish, insects, etc. Snakes eat their prey whole (their jaws are very flexible).
- 5. MovementThe lack of limbs does not impede the movement of snakes. They have developed several different modes of locomotion to deal with particular environments.examplesLateral undulation- Snakes flexes from the left to the rightSidewinding-modified form of lateral undulation in which all of the body segments oriented in one direction remain in contact with the ground
- 6. Are all snakes the same?Answer- No. There are many different types. According to current scientific classification there are somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000 different breeds.
- 7. Major Families of Snakes1)Colubridae -- The Colubridae family of snakes is by far the largest family, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the world's snakes. The vast majority of colubrids are non-venomous2)Boidae -- The Boidae family of snakes (known as boids) includes python and boa species.3)Elapidae -- The Elapidae family of snakes (known as elapids) includes cobras, mambas, coral snakes and taipans. All elapids are venomous4)Viperidae -- The Viperidae family of snakes (known as viperids) includes rattlesnakes, vipers, adders and other species. All types of snakes in the Viperidae family are venomous. 5)Hydrophiidae -- As the name suggests, the Hydrophiidae family includes sea snakes. Most sea snakes are venomous
- 8. “Field Trip”ASU’s Life Sciences BuildingOur guides: Professor Figueroa and his assistant Katherine Hintz.