About
Snakes evolved from lizard ancestors approximately 100 million years ago — losing limbs as an adaptation for burrowing or aquatic life. There are approximately 3,700 species worldwide; about 600 are venomous and 200 capable of causing serious harm to humans. They inhabit every continent except Antarctica and nearly every habitat.
The reticulated python (up to 8m) is the world's longest snake; the anaconda the heaviest (up to 230 kg). The black mamba delivers enough venom to kill 10 humans and is the world's fastest snake (20 km/h). The inland taipan (Australia) is the world's most venomous snake — one bite contains enough toxin to kill 100 humans. Pit vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads) detect infrared heat, allowing them to hunt in complete darkness.
# Top 10 snake facts
- 1heat-sensing pit organs
- 2jaw disarticulation to swallow large prey
- 33,700 species
- 4black mamba (fastest and most aggressive)
- 5inland taipan (most venomous)
- 6anaconda (heaviest)
- 7reticulated python (longest)
- 8sea kraits breathe through skin
- 9snakes are deaf (feel vibrations)
- 10snake venom is saliva
Fascinating Facts
- ◆The inland taipan's single bite contains enough venom to kill 100 adult humans — but it's so shy that human fatalities are almost unknown
- ◆Snakes smell by flicking their tongues to collect airborne particles — the forked tongue delivers samples to two separate scent organs
- ◆The black mamba is not black — it's grey-brown; the 'black' refers to the ink-black color of its open mouth
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