Snakes: Did You Know?

There are approximately 3,500 species of snakes in the world. However only a small portion of them are venomous.
Snakes are found on all continents except Antarctica.
Snakes can be found in almost all habitats: deserts, grasslands, forests, underground, rivers, even open oceans.
Snakes, like other reptiles, are ectotherms ("cold-blooded"). They rely on behavioral means, like basking or seeking shade, to regulate their body temperature.
Snakes in temperate climates hibernate through the colder months. Some species gather in huge communal dens, sometimes even sharing them with other species. Rattlesnakes and garter snakes are two North American species that gather in dens in large numbers to hibernate.
Most snakes have only one functional lung, the right. The left lung is vestigial or absent.
All snakes are carnivorous eating only meat. This includes mammals, birds, insects, fish, invertebrates, eggs, and other reptiles, including snakes.
There are three main ways snakes catch their prey: "harmless" prey like earthworms, frogs, and fish are swallowed alive. Many species grab their prey then constrict it.
Venomous snakes strike and inject venom in their prey to kill it.
It is a myth that constriction is used to crush prey. Constriction suffocates prey by squeezing a bit tighter every time the animal exhales until the animal has no room left to breathe.
Some snakes are very specialized feeders and have adaptations to help them eat their preferred food. The African egg-eating snake eats eggs and has vertebrae with downward projecting spines that opens the eggs. Kingsnakes eat other snakes including venomous species. They have a high natural immunity to the venom of the species that share their geographic range.
Snakes rely heavily on their sense of smell to detect prey. Unlike humans, snakes use their tongue for smell. Their tongue picks up airborne scent particles and places them in the Jacobson's organ in the roof of the snakes' mouth. This scent organ then can distinguish between different odors.
Snakes do not have external ears and cannot hear like humans do. Their main "hearing" is the ability to pick up vibrations from the ground in the bones of their skull and jaw.
Several species have special heat pits that can detect differences in temperature of only a fraction of a degree. This ability to detect heat is especially useful for snakes that eat mainly warm-blooded prey.
Snakes do not chew their food, but swallow it whole.
Snakes need to shed their old skin as they grow. The faster they are growing the more often snakes shed their skins, sometimes once a month if growth is rapid. Snakes that are not experiencing much growth or activity may only shed a few times a year.
Snakes never stop growing. They will grow throughout their lives, but growth may be extremely slow in mature animals.
The skin is normally shed in one piece. It comes off inside out, starting at the head and peeling back as the snake moves to help the shedding process along.
Snakes give birth in two ways. Some like rat snakes, milk snakes, and kingsnakes lay eggs. Others keep the eggs in their bodies until they hatch. The young are then born.
Garter snakes, copperheads, and rattlesnakes are all examples of Indiana snakes that give birth.
Any snake, whether venomous or not, can bite.
A venomous snake may release as much or as little venom as it chooses, and may even give a "dry" bite with no venom at all. Venom is not something a snake wants to waste.
In Indiana, there are four species of venomous snakes: eastern massasauga, timber rattlesnake, western cottonmouth, and the northern copperhead. The eastern massasauga's range includes the northern part of the state while the others are restricted to the southern part. The cottonmouth has only been confirmed in a few spots in the extreme southern part of Indiana.
All the venomous snakes in Indiana are pit vipers. They have a heat pit between the eye and nostril on each side of the head. They also have vertical pupils.
The venom of juvenile snakes can be more toxic, drop for drop, than that of the adults.
Many species of snakes live around water, particularly water snakes, queen snakes, and garter snakes. Most so-called "water moccasins" are nothing more than one of the species of nonvenomous water snakes that live in Indiana.
Rattlesnakes give warning by rattling their tail. Many other non-venomous snakes such as rat snakes and kingsnakes also buzz their tail similarly as a warning to leave them alone.
As a last resort, the hognose snake (and some other species) will lie on their backs and pretend to be dead when threatened.
Snakes can use their venom for defense as well as to capture prey. The spitting cobra aims a stream of venom at its attacker's eyes, temporarily blinding the victim.
Most snakes try to avoid a confrontation by moving away. Keep in mind that snakes are easily outrun by people who also wish to avoid meeting them.