Snakes

Some modern species still carry primitive distinctive marks, this is the case with pythons and boas that still have vestiges of hind limbs, which only point to a past when snakes were more lizard like than they are today. Snakes or serpents are present in all cultures, carrying symbolic meanings and being widely represented in artistic form. Worshiped or hunted down as evil creatures, snakes surely have a fascination on human mind; yet, modern attitudes have changed towards snakes particularly under the emphasis of the ecological movements that insist on the importance of these creatures for the balance of ecosystems. And they couldn’t be more right.

There are many aspects in the life of snakes that fascinate scientists and indicate that there are more things to learn about the many existing species. Thus, it is interesting to study how the patterns on the body of snakes differentiate between individuals even within the same species. Then, their sensitivity to vibrations, the incredible sense of smell and even the perception of low frequency sounds make snakes 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 species and sub-species should learn to distinguish between the dangerous or harmless varieties, and thus avoid them accordingly. Non-venomous snakes could also bite and injure one seriously when threatened, therefore, a healthy attitude towards such animals will save you a lot of trouble. Do not attempt to catch, hunt or kill snakes: they will never come after you for the sake of just biting. The only terms under which they attack are when they are stirred or threatened. Respect the environment and everything it shelters!

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