We've all heard the stories about snakes shedding their skin and constricting prey to death, but we've gathered together some of the more surprising facts about snakes you may not be so familiar with. From snake yoga to cartwheeling snakes, get settled in for a thrilling Year of the Snake!
10 amazing snake facts
1. Snakes don’t have ears – but they can hear with their jaw
They may not have external ears, but snakes can detect low-frequency vibrations through their jawbones, which then transmit soundwaves to the inner ears.
2. They can adjust their venom depending on the situation
Some species of venomous snakes can alter the composition of their venom to meet the needs of the specific situation they find themselves in. Factors may include the size or behaviour of the target species. The venom will be more neurotoxic for a quicker kill, or more hemotoxic for digestion. Some snakes can evolve their venom over time to meet the changes in their prey’s biology.
3. Snakes can regrow their teeth
Snakes can sometimes lose their teeth during feeding, but new teeth grow constantly to replace them. Some species can lose hundreds of teeth over a lifetime.
4. They can play dead
Species such as the eastern hognose snake engage in the sport of ‘thanatosis’, which essentially means they play dead when they are under threat. They may flip onto their backs, open their mouths, convulse, appear to bleed from their mouths, defecate or remain motionless – sometimes they may even emit a bad-smelling odour.
5. Even blind snakes can see
The Leptotyphlopidea family of snakes – known as slender blind snakes – are technically considered blind, but they have an eye structure that can detect light and dark. Their tiny eyes can detect changes in light intensity, which helps them navigate underground in very dimly lit environments.
6. Some species can fly and cartwheel
In order to escape predators, some species of snake have been known to perform impressive gymnastics. The dwarf reed scape is able to cartwheel away when it senses the presence of a predators, a trick researchers discovered when they spotted an adult dwarf reed snake crossing a road in Malaysia. Others, such as flying snakes, can glide through the air by lifting themselves up and undulating their body back and forth.
7. Some female snakes can reproduce without a fella
Species such as the brahminy blind snake are known to practice ‘parthenogenesis’, a form of asexual reproduction in which the females can fertilise their own eggs without the need of a male. The offspring they produce is genetically identical to themselves.
8. They can survive for months without eating
Some species of snake can go for up to six months without eating, particularly when they’re hibernating or in periods of slower metabolism. Most snakes can survive for extended periods though, so this isn’t hugely uncommon.
9. Sea snakes can expel salt from their bodies so they don’t dehydrate
Sea snakes have done some pretty impressive evolution, having developed glands that allow them to expel salt from their bodies. Some species can survive in full-strength seawater without getting dehydration or salt poisoning.
10. At a studio in LA, snakes are doing yoga
LA-based yoga studio LXR has a weekly yoga class with a variety of ball pythons, which invites attendees to get to know the snakes and their handlers and then take part in snake-incorporated yoga. The BBC Wildlife Magazine team would not recommend engaging in such perilousssss endeavours.
Discover the weirdest snakes in the world here...
