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the Snake

Snakes are closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. All snakes are carnivorous, eating small animals, birds or insects. Snakes do not chew their food. Snakes have very flexible lower jaws, the two halves of which are not rigidly attached, allowing them to open their mouths wide enough to swallow their prey whole, even if it is larger in diameter than the snake itself. Contrary to the popular myth, at no point do they "unhinge" their jaws (disarticulate their mandibular joints). After eating, snakes become torpid while the process of digestion takes place. The skin is covered in scales. Most snakes use specialized belly scales to move, gripping surfaces. Their eyelids are permanently closed but transparent "spectacle" scales. They shed their skin periodically. Although they may be venomous , snakes do not not prey on humans. Most snakes will attack a human being only if startled or injured. Some well known snake species are: American Copperhead, King Cobra, Australian copperheads, Rat Snake, Milk Snake, king snakes

Snake internet resources

Osage Copperhead

Video of an Osage copperhead in the wild
nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-gui...

Red Milk Snake
Red Milk Snake Video

nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-gui...

Python
sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-python.ht...

Clinical Toxinology Home Page
This site provides snakebite and spiderbite information.
toxinology.com/

Pigmy Rattlesnake
Information on Pigmy Rattlesnake.
uga.edu/srelherp/snakes/sismil.htm

Garter Snake Page
This website is intended as a guide to those herpetologists with a genuine interest in garter snakes
gartersnake.info/

King and Milk Snake Page
This page is a colaborative effort designed to promote the captive breeding of snakes of the genus Lampropeltis Shiny skin, in Latin, and dissemination of information pertinent to them at the scientific level as well.
kingsnake.com/king/

Ratsnakes of North America
This page is dedicated to the dissemenation of knowledge regarding the North American Ratsnake species.
kingsnake.com/ratsnake/

Black Pine Snake
The black pine snake,status, ecology, photos, and links.
kingsnake.com/pituophis/p_m_lodingi.htm...

Keeping Longnose Snakes
An online article on keeping a Longnose Snake.
herper.com/snakearticles/longnose.html

kingsnake.com
Everything you may need for your snake. Great resource.
kingsnake.com/

Care and Captive Breeding of North American Ratsnakes
An article on the care and captive breeding of North American Ratsnakes
reptileallsorts.com/gladescareguide.htm...

Simon's Snake Website
This website is dedicated to educating new and beginning snake owners.
simonsnakesite.tripod.com/

American International Rattlesnake Museum
See pictures and read facts about some of our most popular snakes and other animals. Offers an extensive collection of different species of live rattlesnakes in the world.
rattlesnakes.com/core.html

Crash's Brown Tree Snake Pages
Brown tree snakes, information and pictures.
hear.org/announcements/extras/20030609c...

Interactive Guide to Massachusetts Snakes
You can find information on snakes, identification of snakes, history, common myths and more…
umass.edu/nrec/snake_pit/

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