Fun Facts About Snakes

There's a lot more to snakes than just the basics, though. Here are some fun facts about snakes you may not know.

• There are over 2700 types of snakes.
• Snakes smell with their tongues.
• Snakes do not blink.
• Snakes can have over 300 pairs of ribs.
• A snake's heart can move up to 1 ½ times its length to accommodate swallowed prey.
• Male and female snakes are virtually indistinguishable from one another.
• Brahminy Blind Snakes are all female.
• The Black-Necked Cobra spits venom into its prey's eyes to blind it.
• Spitting Cobras can literally spit venom up to three feet away.
• King Cobras could kill an elephant with one bite.
• Snakes are not particularly maternal or paternal - except for King Cobras, which build nests and care for their eggs until just before they hatch.
• Baby snakes use their teeth to break out of their eggs.
• Vipers' fangs fold back into their mouths.
• Snakes fangs are replaced throughout their lives.
• The symbol for physicians is a staff with snakes wrapped around it, signifying the medicinal use of snakes in ancient times.
• Snakes can live anywhere from days to months without eating, depending on their type.
• Snake venom is used to make anti-venom, which is used to save people from snake bites.
• There are no snakes in New Zealand.
• The Black Mamba is the fastest snake in the world, reaching up to twelve miles an hour.
• The Black Mamba may be several colors, but is not black.
• Snakes which live in cold climates hibernate during the winter.