Snakes

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Snakes are the very large group of long reptiles in the world. There are over 2,500 different species of snakes in the world. Snakes live in a different variety of land and water habitats. The most abundant snakes and the largest snakes are found in tropical climates such as rain forests. Snakes are found on every continent in the world but not in Antarctica where it is too cold for them to survive. There are also no snakes native to Hawaii, Iceland, Ireland or New Zealand.

SNAKE CHARACTERISTICS

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Snakes have a long, narrow body with scales covering their skin. Snakes have no eyelids, no external ear openings and no legs, but a few snakes, such as boa constrictors and pythons have vestigial (concealed or hidden) hind legs which are tiny, clawed digits known as ‘anal spurs’ which are used to grasp at the time of mating. As they grow, snakes shed their old skin and the film that covers their eyes regularly. Like other reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded.

Snakes have been around for millions of years. Snakes existed during the dinosaur periods. Snakes were very modern reptiles as compared to the dinosaurs. Snakes first appeared during the late Cretaceous period (about 135 million years ago), towards the end of the time of the dinosaurs. So the late dinosaurs, like Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops were around when the first snakes evolved. A snakes diet would have been warm-blooded mammals and they could see whether potential prey was warm or cold blooded. As most or all dinosaurs were cold-blooded, it was very rare for a snake to make a meal out of them.Less than one-third of all snakes are venomous and fewer than 300 may be fatal to humans.

Brahminy blind snakes are the smallest snakes in our planet measuring two inches in length. The anaconda is probably the largest snake and can reach lengths of 38 feet.Snakes are found in many habitats including in the water, forests, deserts and prairies.Like most reptiles, snakes are ectotherms which means they must regulate their own body temperature. Snakes bask in the sun to warm themselves up and move to cooler locations to cool themselves down. Snakes hibernate during the winter months.

SNAKE SENSES

While snake vision is unremarkable (generally being best in arboreal species and worst in burrowing species), it is able to detect movement. Some snakes, like the Asian vine snake, have binocular vision (in which both eyes are used together). In most snakes, the lens moves back and forth within the eyeball to focus. In addition to their eyes, some snakes (pit vipers, pythons and some boas) have infrared-sensitive receptors in deep grooves between the nostril and eye which allow them to actually see radiated heat.

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Snakes have no external ears, however, they do have a bone called the ‘quadrate’ under the skin on either side of the head which focuses sound into the cochlea. Their sense of hearing is most sensitive to frequencies around 200 – 300 Hz.A snake smells by using its forked tongue to collect airborne particles then passing them to the Jacobson’s organ (a sensory organ) in the mouth for examination. The fork in the tongue gives the snake a sort of directional sense of smell. The part of the body which is in direct contact with the surface of the ground is very sensitive to vibration, therefore a snake is able to sense other animals approaching.

SNAKE DIET

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All snakes are carnivorous (meat-eaters). Snakes eat rodents and other mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, insects and eggs. Some snakes (like cobras, vipers and rattlesnakes) are venomous and kill or paralyze their prey by injecting poison through hollow fangs. The venom from venomous snakes paralyzes the nervous system, causes heart and lung failure, or causes internal bleeding of their prey.Some snakes like boas and the anacondas, kill their prey by squeezing it to death, the squeezing does not always crush their victims but rather prevents it from breathing and suffocates it. Snakes do not chew their food or even bite it into pieces they just swallow their food whole.

After eating, snakes become inactive while they digest their food. Digestion is an intensive activity, especially after the consumption of very large prey. In species that feed only at irregular intervals, their entire intestine enters a reduced state between meals to conserve energy and the digestive system is ‘up-regulated’ to full capacity within 48 hours of prey consumption. So much metabolic energy is involved in digestion that in such species as the Mexican rattlesnake, an increase of body temperature rises to as much as 14 degrees Celsius above the surrounding environment. Because of this, a snake disturbed after recently eating will often regurgitate its prey in order to be able to escape the perceived threat. However, when undisturbed, the digestive process is highly efficient, dissolving and absorbing everything but hair and claws, which are excreted along with uric acid waste. Snakes have been known to occasionally die from trying to swallow an animal that is too big. Snake digestive fluids are unable to digest most plant matter, which passes through the digestive system mostly untouched.

A big meal will keep some snakes hunger at bay for a long time. Anacondas and pythons can live for up to a year after eating large prey without having to find food. Snakes hunt mostly at night.

SNAKE REPRODUCTION

Reproduction in snakes varies between species – some lay eggs, just like the dinosaurs did, some give birth to live young, just like mammals. The eggs and hatched young are not cared for by either parents, with the exception of some species of Python.

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Some species are ovoviviparous and retain the eggs within their bodies until they are almost ready to hatch. Recently, it has been confirmed that several species of snake are fully viviparous, such as the green anaconda, nourishing their young through a placenta as well as a yolk sac, highly unusual among reptiles. Retention of eggs and live birth are commonly, but not exclusively, associated with cold environments, as the retention of the young within the female allows her to control their temperature more effectively than if the developing young were in external eggs.

Snakes are believed to live for more than 20 years in the wild, however, in captivity, some species will live as long as 50 years.

The King Of Snakes King Cobra

The King Cobra

The King Cobra Snake (Ophiophagus hannah) is the largest venomous snake in the world. The King Cobra snake is also perhaps the most dangerous snake in the world where humans are concerned. The Ophiohagus Hannah has 11 largest scales on his head which resemble a king’s crown, hence his majestic name. By the way, Ophiophagus is the latin word for “Snake Eater”. Under conditions of high prey availability they can reach a length of 18.5 feet.The King, or Hamadryad, as he is sometimes called, holds the record length of  24 feet for a Venomous snake.Several people die from the bite of the King Cobra each year. A King Cobra can even kill an elephant.

KING COBRA SNAKE HABITAT

King Cobra in the forest

The King Cobra snake lives in much of mainland South East Asia and throughout the dense highland forests. The King Cobra has a preference for living in areas where there are lakes and streams as it is an excellent swimmer. King Cobra populations have reclined in some areas of its range due to the destruction of forests, however, despite this the snake is not listed by the IUCN as in danger of becoming extinct. The King Cobra is said to be the only snake which makes nests for its eggs. It is widely worshipped in India as nagaraja (‘king of snakes’).

KING COBRA SNAKE BEHAVIOUR AND DIET

 A Group of King Cobras is called a ‘Quiver’. Despite the King Cobras fearsome reputation, it is generally a shy and reclusive animal, avoiding confrontation with people as much as possible. There are many smaller venomous snakes within this species range that are responsible for a far greater number of fatal snake bites.

The King Cobra 

The King Cobra snakes diet is mainly composed of other snakes (ophiophagy – a specialized form of feeding or alimentary behaviour of animals which hunt and eat snakes). The King Cobra snake prefers non-venomous snakes, however, it will also eat other venomous snakes including kraits and Indian Cobras. Cannibalism is not rare. When food is scarce, King Cobras will also feed on other small vertebrates such as lizards. Like all snakes, they swallow the prey whole, head first. The top and bottom jaws are attached to each other with stretchy ligaments, which let the snake swallow animals wider that itself. Snakes cannot chew their prey. Food is digested by very strong acids in the snakes stomach. After a large meal the snake may live for many months without another meal due to a very slow metabolic rate. King Cobras are able to hunt at all times of day, although it is rarely seen at night, leading some to debate whether it is a diurnal species.

King Cobras, like other snakes, smell using their forked tongue which picks up scent particles and transfers them to a special sensory receptor (Jacobson’s Organ), located in the roof of its mouth. When the scent of a potential meal has been detected, the snake will continue to flick its tongue to gauge the preys direction. It will also rely on its excellent eyesight. The King Cobra snake is able to detect moving prey almost 300 feet (100 metres) away. The King Cobra snake uses sensitivity to vibrations and outstanding intelligence (compared to that of other cobra species) to track its prey.

KING COBRA SNAKE REPRODUCTION

King Cobra Eggs

 Breeding usually takes place in late spring or early summer. After mating, the male will return back to its own home. The female will then lay between 10 and 25 eggs. The offspring are independent as soon as they are born and can capture prey the size of a rat.

Breeding takes place when the two snakes twist their bodies together and can last for days in this position. Females wait approximately 55 days before laying eggs. Female offspring are not bigger than male offspring. The King Cobra snakes average life span is about 20 years.

KING COBRA SNAKE VENOM

 The King Cobras venom is a neurotoxin, capable of killing humans. The mortality rate can be as high as 75%, however, most bites involve nonfatal amounts.

King Cobra head.

Their venom is not the most potent among venomous snakes, however, the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite – up to two-tenths of a fluid ounce (seven millilitres) – is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant. Fortunately, king cobras are shy and will avoid humans whenever possible. King Cobra snakes are fiercely aggressive when cornered or provoked.

King Cobra venom, which is composed mostly of proteins and polypeptides, is produced in specialized salivary glands just behind the snakes eyes. When biting its prey, venom is forced through the snakes half – inch – long (8 – 10 millimetre) fangs and into the wound. Although the venom is less toxic than that of many other venomous snakes, including the Indian Cobra, a King Cobra is capable of injecting more venom than any other snake except the gaboon viper. In fact, a King Cobra can deliver enough venom to kill a full-grown Asian Elephant in 3 hours.

King Cobra venom attacks the victims nervous system and quickly induces severe pain, blurred vision, vertigo, drowsiness and paralysis. In the minutes following, cardiovascular collapse occurs and the victim falls into a coma. Death soon follows due to respiratory failure.