Snakes
Snakes are really interesting reptiles because all snakes can swim even though they are thought of as land reptiles. Snakes are also carnivores and don’t chew their food. Because of that, they can die from trying to eat something to big. Did you know that some anacondas and pythons can go for up to a year without eating after they’ve had only one big meal?!
You also probably didn’t know that snakes evolved from a type of lizard and that most pythons and boa constrictors have super short, stubby hind legs that act kind of like suction cups.
When a snake swims, it moves its tail side to side but they can only move forwards. Only sea snakes can move backwards. Snakes swim using surface tension. We did an experiment and found out that a metal needle can also float because of surface tension.
Lots of people have been bitten and/or killed by snakes in certain countries. Of the 22,000 Americans bitten by venomous snakes every year, less than 20 die but in Africa, 1,000,000 people get bitten a year and 20,000 people die. In Asia, 4,000,000 people get bitten by snakes and 100,000 people get killed by them a year.
Snakes are one of my favorite an animals and these were just a few facts about them. The only thing I don’t like them is they’re hard to find and that they bite. I have only seen the black tiger snake and the common tree snake, but I hope to see more in Asia, Africa and South America.
Fun Fact: When snakes are charmed in India, they don’t move because of the music. Snakes can’t hear. They move from the charmer moving the flute or their feet. Snake charming is banned in most places in India.