Facts About Snakes

There are over 2700 types of snakes in the world and they live in deserts, forests, oceans, streams, lakes. Snakes live on the ground, in trees, and in water but not ice. Snakes cannot survive where the ground is frozen all year.

Snakes, along with other animals such as crocodiles, lizards and turtles, are reptiles. Reptiles are cold blooded animals that increase their body temperature by lying in the sun or decrease it by staying out of the sun. The body temperature of snake’s change depending on the temperature of the environment. This means that snakes which live in cold places must hibernate throughout the winter.

Snakes bodies are armoured with scales and plates, which are also waterproof. This allows snakes to move through rough, hot and wet surfaces without being harmed.

Snakes do not blink and rely more on other senses. Some snakes can smell through their noses but all snakes smell through their tongues – they don’t even need to open their mouths to poke their tongue out! Snakes will use vibrations on the ground to work out the size and mood of its prey.

Snakes are carnivores, which means they only eat animals, often small ones such as insects, birds, frogs and other small mammals. Snakes use their teeth to grip onto the food, not to chew, which is why they eat their food whole. A snakes jaw isn’t attached at the back like our mouths are, that is why it is possible for a snake to eat a hippo.