Snakes

They need to hibernate if they are to be mated. They are extremly good pets as you only need to clean out their tank once or twice a year. You have to feed them once a week. They come in many different colors and morphs. They need the proper nutrients to live and will be healthy if you take good care of them. They should be handled once every week at the least. If you are deciding to buy one then make sure you research them before you decide anything :) GOOD LUCK! :D

People hate what they fear. In most cases this goes back afar and goes into religion. snakes were/are Serpents. In most cases serpents were assosiated with the devil.(Like the snake in Adam and Eve) and were feared for many years. Even today!!! Like most fears, you can inherate them off other people when you are very young.
Probably because they're not 'cute & cuddly' like furry creatures. Add to that - the story of Adam and Eve being tempted by the serpent, in the bible - and it's easy to see why snakes have a 'bad press'. In reality - of the 2,400 know snake species - only about 400 species are actually venomous. Additionally - of those 400 species - only a small proportion produce venom potent enough to kill people.

Snakes lay eggs via a process called oviposition. The eggs develop and are then laid through the cloaca, which is an opening in the snake's body that serves as the endpoint for the digestive, reproductive, and urinary tracts.

King Snakes are killed and eaten by Hawks, Eagles, Owls, Badgers, Racoons and I doubt a Black or Brown Bear would have any problems snacking on them if encountered.

King Snakes can be eaten by other snakes as well ... though I haven't found out which snakes are their primary predators yet.

Snakes use their forked tongues to collect scent particles from the air and transfer them to the vomeronasal organ in the roof of their mouth. This organ helps them detect and "smell" their surroundings by analyzing chemical cues.

This is called a flicking of the tongue. A snake smells with its tongue, so it will flick its tongue a lot. it uses its tongue for sensing its prey and when it gets close enough it leaps and bits.

If snakes were removed from the food chain, it would disrupt the ecosystem balance. Their absence could lead to an increase in the population of their prey species, which in turn could deplete resources and impact other animals that rely on those prey for food. Additionally, snakes play a role in controlling rodent populations, so their absence could lead to an increase in rodent numbers, leading to further ecosystem imbalances.

its a hawk that eats both of these animals

Alaska does not have snakes

neither do new zealand or Ireland.... Hawaii has 1 native land snake that looks like a black worm....

places that generally stay pretty cold...and the northern united states doesn't count....

While there are many venomous snakes, there are a few poisonous snakes (poisons are absorbed or ingested, while venoms are injected), among those are the Japanese Rat snakes (not venomous) and the Asian Tiger snake (the only poisonous and venomous snake). Many garter snakes may become poisonous through a diet of poisonous frogs and toads, so be careful before eating them.

I searched the web a bit and the best I can tell is that all snakes are edible. If cooked properly they are supposed to be mighty tasty as well. If your worried about poison, don't be. Cutting off the head gets rid of the venom. Cooking the venom kills the poison. However, the only way the venom can effect a person is getting into ones circulatory system. You can drink pure venom of any snake without any ill effects.

**added by jinglejangle**

My understanding is that snakes are all edible, and although that may not be true, i do suspect that all North American and European snakes are probably edible. Three things to bear in mind.

1. For poisonous snakes, the venom is not poisonous to eat I THINK, but if you have a sore in your mouth or stomach you don't know about it might be dangerous to consume, especially if it is a snake that uses Neurotoxins, like the cobra family.

2. The poison glands are behind the head, so I would remove this, CAREFULLY. Many snakes can still bite you when they are dead, even when their heads are cut off, and they can still kill you this way. Bury or burn the head after removal.

3. With all snakes, even the non-poisonous ones, as well as with any reptile or amphibian, it is important to cook the meat thoroughly, and to wash your hands after handling snake flesh, because as many as 90% of reptiles carry salmonella, and you don't want that, especially if you are in a survival situation.

end of jinglejangles bit**

**edit added by Nathan Xplosion on 02/02/10 3:04PM**

From the tours I've taken at zoos and from personal internet and reference book research, I have learned that all snakes are edible. The venom sacs reside in the back of the head, just remove the head and cook, venomous or not. Obviously, one would not want to eat the tail of a rattlesnake, but their meat is very delicious.

**end edit by Nathan Xplosion**

Snakes have backbones. They are vertebrates. They are classified in the Subphylum Vertebrata.

snakes are vertebrates because if you look inside the snake on a picture you can see the spine it's actually pretty long.

A snake has a spine/backbone and is therefore a vertebrate.

To avoid rattlesnake dangers, stay on designated trails and avoid tall grass or dense brush where they may hide. Wear sturdy boots and long pants when hiking in rattlesnake-prone areas and be cautious when placing your hands or feet in areas where a rattlesnake could be hiding. If you encounter a rattlesnake, slowly back away and give it space to retreat.

Yes, some species of snakes are semi-aquatic and can be found living in water for parts of their lives. Water snakes, sea snakes, and anacondas are examples of snakes that are adapted to living in aquatic environments. However, not all snakes are aquatic, and some prefer to live on land.

The most venomous snake on earth is the Belcher's Sea Snake (Hydrophis Belcheri) or the Faint Banded Sea Snake, some consider the Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) an/or the Beaked Sea Snake (Enhydrina schistosa) to be the most toxic, however, with recent and more accurate studies prove the Belcheri has a 100 times more toxic venom then the two above or any other snake on earth.

It has a paddle-like tail, breathes air and can hold it's breath up to 8 hours, a few milligrams of venom can kill over a thousand people.

It's habitat is a wide range in the South Pacific.

Excluding the Belcher's Sea Snake the next most venomous snakes on earth according to their venom rating are:

2- Inland Tiapan (Oxyuranus Microlepidotus).

3- Common Indian Krait (Bungarus Caeruleus).

4- Philippine Cobra (Naja Philippinensis).

5- King Cobra (Ophiophagus Hanna).

6- Russell's Viper (Vipera Russellii).

7- Black Mamba (Dendroaspis Polylepis).

8- Yellow Jawed Tommygoff (Bothrops Asper).

9- Multibanded krait (Bungarus Multicinctus).

10- Tigar Snake (Notechis Scutatus).

11- Jararacussu (Bothrops Jararacussu).

I do not have the capability to display images. However, a black and white striped snake you may be referring to is the California kingsnake, which has distinct alternating black and white stripes along its body.

Ribbon snakes eat fish, frogs, toads, and sometimes rodents in the wild. I'm not sure if they eat insects, although I believe they eat earthworms too. In captivity they are generally fed mice, which may need to be scented by the natural prey (rubbing a minnow on a mouse, for example) before it is accepted.

A Common Krait snake typically weighs between 500 grams to 1 kilogram (1.1 to 2.2 pounds), with females usually being larger and heavier than males.

There are only two species of poisonous snakes in Delaware: the northern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. Both are venomous, but their bites are rarely fatal to humans.

Some snakes that are safe to eat include rattlesnakes, pythons, water snakes, and boa constrictors. However, it is important to properly prepare and cook the snake meat to avoid any potential health risks. It is recommended to consult with a local expert or guide when consuming snake meat.

Snakelet, neonate (a newly-born snake), hatchling (a newly-hatched snake)

snakes don't dislocate there jaw! There jaw looks more like predator than the standard human mandible and maxilla. They also have a very long flexible ligament that helps to swallow large prey. Snakes dislocating there jaw is a misconception made worse by films saying they do when they really don't.

A baby mangrove tree is called a propagule. It is a seedling that germinates while still attached to the parent tree, and once matured, it falls into the water to float away and establish itself in a new location.

While bull snakes are resistant to rattlesnake venom, they are not completely immune. Some studies suggest that bull snakes have developed certain physiological adaptations that allow them to survive rattlesnake bites, but they can still be affected by the venom to some extent. It is still important to exercise caution and seek medical attention if bitten by a rattlesnake.

Its a warning to beware of deception; those who invite with a smile (and appearing friendly) but dont reveal their true nature.

there is a variation which simply says "show no teeth" as in give nothing away, not a snarl nor a smile.