Types Of Snakes
There are many Types of Snakes! We only experience shivers when we hear about snakes or actually see them because ‘snakes’ conjure an image of hideous, dangerous and poisonous creatures that wriggle all around, flicking their tongues out, ready to kill. But that is not always true! There are some which are poisonous, yet beautiful and those which are not poisonous at all. The most famous types of snakes are mentioned below:
The Cobra
This is a name that almost everyone knows and most of us think it is a single snake. But actually this name is commonly used for a large group of poisonous snakes of Africa and Southern Asia. The word Cobra is Portuguese, meaning snake. It actually was ‘Cobra de capello’, meaning ‘hooded snake’ which now is reduced to ‘Cobra’ only. If attacked or bothered, these types of snakes adopt an attacking position raising most of its body off the ground and its neck inflates into a hood.
These types of snakes are not the most venomous of all snakes but, if angered one cobra bite can easily kill an elephant. Of all the snakes in the world, the cobras are the only ones that make nests for their eggs, and guard them viciously until the hatchlings emerge. Cobras, or more specifically, the King Cobra is the choice of the Snake charmers in South Asia, because of its beauty and ability to be charmed.
The Viper
Viper is a large family of poisonous of snakes. Though there are around 180 species in the viper family, there are only some types of snakes that are called vipers. Physically, they are characterized by their thick bodies and triangular heads. Moreover, their fangs perform a unique action of tucking back against the roof of the mouth when they are not being used. They are found in almost all regions of the world, yet there are some places that are devoid of their species altogeth;er, like Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar and the Arctic Circle. These types of snakes usually breed and live on the ground, but some kinds live in trees. The females of most species bear live young.
Copperheads, Rattlesnakes, water moccasins, Russell’s viper, Death Adder and Rhinoceros Vipers are the commonly known vipers.
The Kingsnake
The Lampropeltis or more commonly known as the Kingsnake is a smooth and shiny snake that is among one of the species that are considered harmless for humans. And that is why people tend to keep it as pets. These types of snakes are about 2 to 4 feet long, with heads barely wider than the neck.
They are not the aggressive type but when irritated much they vibrate their tails quickly, hiss, and rolls into a ball. Wild ones, when hunt wrap themselves very tightly around their prey, which dies of constriction, hence these types of snakes are also called constrictors.
The Anaconda
The Anaconda is a large, non-venomous snake found mostly in the tropical regions of South America. Similar to the previous types of snakes, the name Anaconda refers to a large family of snakes but the name is mostly used for one snake in particular, the green anaconda, the hugest of all the types of snakes in the world.
Other anaconda species are all smaller than the green anaconda, which is extremely thick and long.
The most desired habitat of these types of snakes is in the Amazon rainforest is in swamps and bogs and muddy brooks. Their eyes and nasal openings are placed favorably at their heads which allows them to see or catch the scent of their prey while remaining nearly underwater or hidden on land.
The Black Mamba
The Black mambas are fast and lethally poisonous class of snakes and are known for their aggression when threatened. The black mamba is acknowledged the world’s fastest and deadliest types of snakes as the human death toll associated with it is greater than any other species in the world.
Black mambas are mostly found in the eastern Africa. These types of snakes can reach a length of up to 14 feet. The name Black Mamba originates from the fact that their mouth has a black shade! When attacked they tend to slither away from the attacker but if the danger persists they take the same action as the cobras i.e. raise their heads, stretch their neck hood and hiss and their final move against the danger will be to strike the attacker repetitively, infusing venom with each strike, which can kill a normal human being in a about 20 minutes!
