All Pets Web – Not Just Dogs n Cats

There are more than 2,700 snakes varieties spread all over the world in temperate and warm climates; the only part of the globe where snakes cannot live is Antarctica. The diversity of the 2,700 snakes species is relevant in the size differences too: there are some only a few centimeters long while others reach the impressive length of nine meters like the anacondas or the pythons. Poisonous snakes are a minority in this huge reptile family, but their toxic poison is so powerful that it could kill a human being within a few minutes. Chronological research indicates that, the history and origins of snakes are lost in the Cretaceous period, some 150 million years ago, when snakes are assumed to have evolved from a lizard and adapted to a different living environment.

Primitive distinctive marks of this ancestry are still present with some snakes, this is the case with pythons and boas that still carry vestiges of hind limbs, which only make us think of a past when snakes resembled lizards a lot more. Snakes or serpents are present in all cultures, carrying symbolic meanings and being widely represented in the arts. Worshiped or hunted down as evil creatures, snakes surely have a fascination on human mind; yet, modern attitudes have changed towards snakes under the pressure of ecologist organization that stress out the importance of these creatures for the environment of the planet. And many factors confirm such opinions.

Fascinating details in the lives of snakes indicate that not everything has been discovered about the many existing species. Thus, a study of the colored patterns on the body of snakes indicates incredible differentiation details between individuals belonging to the same family. Then, snakes’ response to vibrations, the superior sense of smell and even the perception of low frequency sounds make them pretty out of the ordinary. The same amount of scientific respect is due in terms of anatomical programing by the presence of the infrared sensitive receptors that allow pit vipers for instance to detect the warmth of the prey’s body.

Snakes share their habitat with us, and people living in areas with a higher density of snake groups and sub-groups develop skills to distinguish between the dangerous or harmless varieties, and thus they reduce the risk of snakebites. Non-venomous snakes are not that friendly when threatened, therefore, a healthy attitude towards such animals will save you a lot of trouble. Do not try to catch, hunt or kill snakes: they only feed and defend themselves as they cannot hold grudge and follow you just for the sake of biting. Be extremely cautious when keeping snakes as pets.