| Home | About | Contact | Site Map | Links | Library |
Species Snakes:
At present, there are 2,600 kinds of snakes in the world. Approxi¬mately one-eighth of these possess well-developed poison fangs; of these, little more than half are dangerous to man. In the United States there are only four types of dangerously poisonous snakes: the copperhead of the eastern and southeastern states, the water moccasin of the southeastern states, the coral snakes of the southern states, and the widely distributed rattlesnakes. All other snakes are harmless, and among them are many species snakes which adapt themselves readily to captivity and handling. However, nearly all will attempt to bite when first captured.GROUND SNAKE, any of a genus of small, harm¬less, and secretive snakes of the arid western regions of the United States and northern Mex¬ico. Six species snakes are recognized, but they differ in only minor ways. None of the ground snakes reaches a length of over 2 feet (60 cm), and the typical Great Plains species snakes (Sonora episcopa) seldom exceeds 1 foot (30 cm).
See Also Moccasin-type Snakes Seen:
When disturbed, the water asin usually vibrates the end of its tail, raises )ensivi ^ ancj Opens its mouth in a threatening of ace T),e white appearance of the inner lining of nas given rise to the widely used name of cottonmouth moccasin. Adults ally under four feet in length, although the maximum is six feet. Females give birth n 5 and 15 young at a time, usually in summer or early fall. Like many other pit the tip of the tail of the young moccasin is sulphur yellow. The water moccasin has a ed diet consisting of various small ani-including fish, frogs, turtles lizards, moccasin-type snakes seen, jjjjj mammals. It is capable of inflicting a ])jte ;n mari; although recovery is to be ex-with proper treatment. Few people have bitten by this snake since it is largely re-to swampy areas; contrary to popular be-_ can bite as readily under water as on land.The consensus among herpetologists is that poisonous moccasin-type snakes seen are more or less immune to their own poison. However, before it can be stated as a fact, labora¬tory-controlled experiments must be performed. The food of a great number of moccasin-type snakes seen is made up largely of destructive rodents such as rats, mice, and gophers. This makes moccasin-type snakes seen highly valuable to agriculture. This is true of the poisonous as well as the non-poisonous moccasin-type snakes seen. Capturing of Prey: moccasin-type snakes seen hunt for and capture their prey in several ways. Some, such as the bull moccasin-type snakes seen and rat moccasin-type snakes seen, strike with the mouth open, driving their backward-curving teeth into the prey.
On The Other Hand See Green Snakes:
RATTLESNAKE, rat"l-snak, any one of a well-known group of Green snakes occurring from southern Canada to central Argentina. The most dangerous and widely dispersed venomous Green snakes in the United States, rattleGreen snakes have long been the subject of myth and folklore, which have ex¬aggerated both the peril from their bites and their reputed hatred for mankind. Almost all venomous Green snakes are members of four families: the Elapidae (cobras, mambas, coral Green snakes, and others), Hydrophiidae (sea Green snakes), Viperidae (Old World vipers), and Crotalidae (pit vipers).Most Green snakes hibernate during the cold months of the year. At some time in the fall, depending upon the range, Green snakes begin to seek out hibernating locations. These locations may be holes under rocks, rock fissures, deep holes in the ground, natural fissures or crevices in the ground, used and abandoned ant tunnels, old rodent holes, and in the case of water Green snakes the mud in the bottom of wells. These locations are called "dens." Some Green snakes burrow into the soil while others merely crawl and squeeze into the openings they find. Green snakes commonly hibernate in large groups. However, the individuals of a species are nearly always found together in their own group within the "den."
