Snakes
Snakes are animals with long, legless bodies. A snake’s body is covered with dry scales. To move about on land, a snake slithers along on its belly. The eyes of a snake are covered by clear scales instead of movable eyelids. As a result, its eyes are always open. Snakes have a thin, forked tongue that they flick out again and again. They use this long tongue to learn about their surroundings.
Snakes are closely related to lizards. They belong to a group of animals called reptiles. Like other reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded. The body temperature of a cold-blooded animal changes to match the temperature of its surroundings. Snakes control their body temperature through behavior. For example, they may raise their body temperature by lying in the sun. They may lower it by crawling into the shade.
The Body Of A Snake
The dry scales that cover a snake’s body may be smooth or ridged, with rough edges. From time to time, a snake sheds the outer layer of skin. This skin-shedding is called molting. When a snake molts, it loosens the skin around its mouth and head by rubbing its nose on a rough surface. The snake then crawls out of the old skin, turning it inside out.
Many snakes are not brightly colored. They usually blend in with their surroundings. Others snakes have bright colors of red, yellow, or white. These colors may warn other animals that the snake is dangerous.
Some snakes are poisonous. Most poisonous snakes have two hollow fangs in the upper jaw. Snakes shoot their venom, or poison, through their fangs when they bite. The deadliest snakes include the Indian cobra of Asia, the black mamba and the saw-scaled viper of Africa, and the tiger snake of Australia.
The Snake’s Way Of Life
Most snakes are active during the day. Others move about at night and rest during the day.
Most snakes eat birds, fish, frogs, lizards, and such small animals as rabbits and rats. Some snakes eat other snakes.
Snakes move around in different ways. Most snakes tighten their muscles, causing a series of waves from the head to the tail. Their bodies push against anything on the surface, and doing so moves them forward.
