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They have flat, broad heads and very short snouts, with a cross-shaped marking on the top of their heads and remarkably large eyes. Due to their love of water, they can most commonly be seen during rainy seasons. They are also nocturnal and usually hunt at night, mainly feeding on other snakes but are also known to eat fish, skinks, frogs, and snake eggs. A fossilized snake from the Ecoene era (55.8 to 33.9 million years ago), when Gigantophis garstini (not pictured) lived in modern-day Egypt. (Image credit: Williamhc/Getty Images) Burmese pythons ( Python bivittatus) are one of 41 python species worldwide. Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia and start life in trees, but by adulthood their size forces them down to the ground. The largest recorded Burmese python was a captive snake named Baby, which measured 18.8 feet (5.74 m) long, according to Guinness World records. In the wild, these snakes regularly stretch to over 16 feet (4.9 m) long — large enough to hunt alligators.
Burmese pythons are an invasive species in Florida. The largest caught in the state living in the wild measured 17.7 feet. (Image credit: Hillary Kladke/Getty Images) There are more than 3,000 species of snakes on the planet and they’re found everywhere except in Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand. About 600 species are venomous, and only about 200—seven percent—are able to kill or significantly wound a human. Look for Oriental Ratsnakes in rice paddies, wetlands, farmland, and suburban areas. They usually prey upon small reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. Interestingly, adults subdue their prey by sitting on it, using their body weight to weaken it.
Keeping snakes and other exotic pets
While modern-day snakes can reach incredible sizes,: prehistoric snakes beat most of these present-day records. Gigantophis garstini, for example, was a hefty beast that slithered around about 40 million years ago on a body that researchers estimate was anywhere between 23 and 32 feet (7 - 10 m) long, according to a PLOS blog post.
Giant snakes weren’t confined to land: Earth’s prehistoric seas also contained leviathans, such as Palaeophis colossaeus. This sea serpent traversed an ancient ocean that once lay over parts of North Africa 100 million years ago. When its fossilized skeleton was discovered in the present-day Sahara desert, researchers calculated from samples subsequently collected during field trips in 1999 and 2003 that this species would have reached over 39 feet (12 m) long, according to research published in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. That makes it the lengthiest sea snake ever found — and one of the longest known snakes, period. Look out for strange S-shaped indents in the sand or listen for loud rasping noises. These are the tell-tale signs that there’s a Saw-scaled Viper nearby. They are highly aggressive and capable of lunging to deliver a bite. Interestingly, the venom of hatchlings is as potent as the adults’. The babies are brightly marked, but these colors often fade as they mature. In addition, they are often nervous and alert, which makes them highly aggressive if disturbed. Snakes are thought to have evolved from terrestrial lizards as early as the Middle Jurassic Epoch (174.1 million to 163.5 million years ago). The oldest known fossil snake, Eophis underwoodi, was a small snake that lived in southern England about 167 million years ago. Snakes and humansTo first understand what snakes are venomous let’s dive into what venomous means. According to the National Institute of Health, “Animal venoms are complex chemical mixtures that typically contain hundreds of proteins and non-proteinaceous compounds, resulting in a potent weapon for prey immobilization and predator deterrence.” The fat-tailed Dunnart is a mouse-like creature that isn't fatal to humans but a bite or scratch from them to one of the campmates could cause them a range of health issues as they can transmit Zoonotic diseases. The Reticulated python is an ambush predator. It waits until the prey gets within striking distance, seizes it, and then constricts until the prey’s heartbeat stops. Its usual diet includes mammals and birds, but this species will snatch pets such as cats and dogs if they come across them. Reticulated pythons are the longest snakes that live on Earth today. (Image credit: Paul Starosta/Getty Images) Although it’s non-venomous, its bite can cause pain and inflammation. A mild pain medication or anti-inflammatory drug will help, but it’s best to avoid a bite from this species!
Nonvenomous snakes, which range from harmless garter snakes to the not-so-harmless python, dispatch their victims by swallowing them alive or constricting them to death. Whether they kill by striking with venom or squeezing, nearly all snakes eat their food whole, in sometimes astoundingly large portions. Banded Kraits can be seen in diverse habitats, ranging from forests to agricultural lands and open countryside plains. They often live near human settlements, especially villages, because of the large supply of rodents and water. Ross warns "All reptiles can carry diseases and the common freshwater snake is one the campmates should be aware of. Salmonella can spread to the campmates if something they were to eat was contaminated with the snake's faeces." The Indian Cobra is a member of the “Big Four,” a group of snakes responsible for almost all deaths caused by snakes in India. Its venom has a potent neurotoxin that leads to muscle paralysis and respiratory failure. It’s vital to be treated with the antivenom within 30 minutes to avoid the worst symptoms, so get treatment as soon as possible if you’re bitten. Their venom belongs to the class of three-finger toxins, meaning they kill by preventing nerve cells from working properly.
Bats
Viper venom belongs to a class of proteins called metalloproteases. These can digest tissue, causing tissue to die (necrosis), swell (edema) or bleed, Barua said. The Indo-Chinese Rat Snake is active during the day when it hunts lizards, rodents, and sometimes birds. They can adapt to various habitats but prefer forested areas, grasslands, and plantations close to a water source. This species is common to find on walks and hikes because it’s relatively comfortable around people. Watch your step! They spend almost all their time underground in ant and termite nests and live under logs, moist leaves, and stones. Look for them in suburban and even urban gardens and moist forests. Another South Asian native, the reticulated python ( Malayopython reticulatus) — decorated with a pattern of repeating diamond shapes that give it its name — is widely recognized as the longest snake on Earth today. One account from 1912 claims that a captured python measured 32.8 feet (10 m ) long — the length of a typical school bus — though this figure is difficult to verify.
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