Snakes World

Alabama police say that the person who removed 22 tree boa snakes from a garden shed was simply concerned about the welfare of the reptiles. Jacob Brooks of Prallville, Alabama, filed a theft report when he returned home and found his pets missing, the Montgomery Advertiser reported. The Amazon tree boas had total value of $10,000. Police Chief Alfred Wadsworth said that no criminal charges will be filed in the case. He said that the motive for the removal of the snakes was to get them to a place with an appropriate temperature.The survivors were returned to Brooks, a hobbyist who breeds the snakes and sells them online. The tree boas ranged in length from 2 feet to 6 feet. They are constrictors and do not deliver a venomous bite.

For all of us snake lovers, we know that snakes are fascinating and useful. For those people who dislike and fear snakes, here is something to keep in mind. Snakes keep the rat populations under control. A sharp decline in the population of snakes due to ecological changes can harm the agriculture sector, as the population of rats and other rodents will go up. It’s just another reason to appreciate this incredible reptile.

Did you know that the snake is said to be one of the first reptiles on Earth? Snakes played a major role in mythology. The common snake is called the ’snake’, and any mythological snake is often referred to as a ’serpent’. Many people think of snakes as generally poisonous, dangerous and even a threat to mortality. This is certainly not true in all cases. There are several types of snakes. Many snakes are not poisonous.Venomous snakes use their fangs to either kill or immobilize their prey, using venom and saliva to achieve this. Poisonous snakes are classified into four families. There are the Elapids, Viperids, Colubrids and Hydrophiidae.

Do you know what the most poisonous snakes are? It is the Elapidae family, also known as elapids. The black mamba and the fierce snake are two examples. All elapids are poionous. They are found mostly in the tropical parts of the world. They have hollow fangs that are used to inject venom into their prey. Doesn’t that sound frightening? The Elapidae snake produces neurotoxic venom. What does neurotoxic venom do?  It goes straight to the nervous system of its prey. Other elapids are the Australian copperheads, kraits, king cobras, coral snakes, and of course, the cobras. They are the most lethal of all snakes.

What is the biggest snake? This question comes up more than any other regarding snakes. Let’s face it, people are fascinated with size. Add to that the curiosity and the mystery surrounding snakes, and you have the ever persistent question. So the answer to the question is that it depends on whether you are referring to the length of the snake or the weight. If you look in the records there is some controversy over which snake holds the world’s record for size. The dimensions that have earned the anaconda the title of king is its total body weight The sheer physical bulk of it is amazing. The other snake that competes with the anaconda for the title of World’s Biggest Snake is the Asiatic Reticulated Python. The python holds the world’s record for length of a snake, with the longest ever measured at 33 feet. Even though the longest python is longer than the record-holding anaconda, the girth of the anaconda is far bigger. Anacondas in the jungles of South America can grow as big around as a grown man! So there you have it. The anaconda is the heaviest, and the reticulated python is the longest.

LAHORE: The Reptiles Hunting Club, in collaboration with the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Veterinary Sciences (UVAS), arranged a snake show on the college campus on Monday. According to a press release issued by the UVAS, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Nawaz inaugurated the show, which exhibited various species of snakes, including the rat snake, the cobra, the krait, the carter and the viper.

The vice-chancellor, speaking on the occasion, said that the show had been arranged to create awareness among students about the safety precautions that should be taken when handling snakes. He encouraged research into antidotes made from snake venom. The show also included instructions on how to identify and safely handle venomous snakes. Both students and teachers attended the show and it was well received by all.

Watch this video of a big snake. But be careful, there is a surprise at the end.

A new snake species was  found in Australia, a country renowned for its unusual and often venomous animals. A single specimen of the central ranges taipan, a snake, was discovered crossing a dirt track in the scorching-hot, central desert region. After being bagged, it was sent to the Western Australian Museum where it was identified as a new species. This toxic Aussie reptile is related to the Fierce Snake (also known as the inland taipan), which is the world’s most venomous snake.

Here is a YouTube video of a woman who is getting some love from a snake. Apparently, her roommate’s pet python got loose and cozied up with her. In the clip, you will see the police trying to help her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssbnW3uhPVc

I just finished reading this book and it is fascinating. It is based on the career of the American biologist Dr. Joe Slowinski, one of the leading experts on venomous snakes in the world. In  2001, Joe went on an expedition in the jungle of Burma, in search of rare species of snakes. It was the most ambitious scientific expedition to the region ever mounted. Unfortunately, Joe’s pursuit of his passion also led to his untimely death.

If you like snakes, then you will love this book. It is an excellent source of knowledge about various types of snakes. However, this information is intertwined with the riveting plot which includes the amazing attempt to save Joe’s life. I encourage all snake enthusiasts to order a copy. You will not be disappointed. Here is the link:

http://www.snakecharmerbook.com/