Snakes

Indian cobra/ Spectacled cobra (Naja naja)

Which animal do you fear the most? Snake is the most common answer for that. Fear for these amazing slithering unique reptiles has a long history because people believe that,

• All snakes are highly venomous and always seeking to bite humans.
• Snakes are very dirty animals; their skins are slimy or sticky which are disgusting.

 Wolf Snake (Lycodon aulicus)

If you ever touched a snake, you will understand the above conclusions are not 100% true. Because

• The majority of snakes are non-venomous. They do not seek to bite and kill humans. They only attack If they feel threatened or to catch prey.
• Believe me, snakes are not slimy or sticky. They have very clean and dry skins.

People kill snakes because they think snakes are a threat to us. Snakes are playing a major role in maintaining ecological balance. Wait what? Yes. They are a significant part of our ecosystem as predators. Snakes are carnivores. They control the population size of many pests such as rodents. snakes are also good indicators of environmental pollution.

 Green Pit Viper (Trimeresurus trigonocephalus)

Some snakes are venomous. Snake venom is composed of a combination of proteins, enzymes, and other molecular substances. These proteins can be extracted for medicinal purposes. Purposes of venom are immobilizing and digesting prey as well as self-defense. Which is not developed specifically to kill people. Snakes are predators, but also they can be prey for other snakes from other species or the same species. But I mention again, not all snakes are venomous.

Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus)

Snakes have razor sharped and teeth pointed into the mouth. But they do not chew, they swallow the prey. These teeth are used to prevent prey from escaping. Only venomous species have fangs, which are specialized, tube-like teeth. Used to inject venom into a wound once strikes. Snakes have been grouped into four categories depending on their ability to kill their prey by venom and the composition of the venom they possess. Which are,

• Deadly venomous
• Moderately venomous
• Mildly venomous
• Non-venomous

Another interesting fact about snakes is moulting. Scientists call this process ecdysis, although you may also sometimes hear the terms sloughing and molting.  Unlike us, snakes can shed their old skin completely for further growth and remove parasites attached to the skin.

-Naturalist Bro-