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6 Interesting Facts About Snakes

By Modupeoluwa Adekanye

25 July 2019   |   6:30 pm

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Snakes are part of the most feared reptiles. This is because bites from some snakes can cause instant death. Here are some things you might not know about snakes:  Reproduce without sex There is a specie of snake called the boa constrictors, these species can reproduce without mating.  Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction that involves the…

Snakes are part of the most feared reptiles. This is because bites from some snakes can cause instant death.

Here are some things you might not know about snakes:

 Reproduce without sex

There is a specie of snake called the boa constrictors, these species can reproduce without mating.  Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction that involves the development of an egg into an embryo without fertilization.  If suitable males are absent, the female snakes put out some half-clones of themselves out.

Steal Venom

Some snakes steal their venom from toxic toads.  This specie of snake is known as Rhabdophis tigrinus; they become poisonous when they eat species of toxic toads. The snakes store the toxins obtained from the toads in glands in their neck. When facing danger, the snakes release the toxins from their neck glands. Pregnant Rhabdophis tigrinus can even pass the toxins on to their young. The toxins protect the young snakes from predators and last until the snakes are able to hunt on their own.

Venoms may be used for stroke prevention

According to scientific reports, researchers are said to be studying snake venom in the hope of developing future treatments for stroke, heart disease, and even cancer. Snake venom contains toxins that target a specific receptor protein on blood platelets. The toxins can either prevent blood from clotting or cause clots to develop.

Habitation

Snakes live on every continent except Antarctica and on most land masses. Exceptions include some large islands, such as Ireland, Iceland, Greenland, Hawaii, and New Zealand, as well as some small islands of the Atlantic and central Pacific Oceans.

Population

There are approximately 3,400 snake species in the world, out of which only about 600 are venomous. Out of those 600 venomous snakes, only 200 pose a serious threat to humans.

Two heads

Some snakes have two heads , This condition is known as polycephaly, a rare condition of having more than one head. The heads might fight each other for food.