Let’s find out the top 5 interesting things about snakes.
It can be said that snakes deserve to be considered as one of the most popular and well-known animals in the world. But still, do you understand all of them? Let’s find out the top 5 interesting things about them.
1. Not all snakes are dangerous?
You may be surprised, but this is the truth. Only a small fraction of the more than 3,500 species of snakes are known to be dangerous, the rest of them are harmless to us. Basically, most snakes are either non-venomous, have no means of transmitting venom, or are not capable of delivering enough venom to be dangerous to humans. Therefore, most snakes on Earth are labeled “non-venomous”, but not everyone who encounters snakes is so lucky.
Green flagella are poisonous, but their toxicity is not dangerous enough to harm humans.
However, if you have enough knowledge about methods of dealing with them, you can avoid danger. In 2010, a man set a record by living in a locked room with 40 venomous snakes at a reptile park in South Africa for four months without being bitten once.
In addition, you may not know, Australia is the only place… there are more venomous snakes than healthy snakes, and Ireland is the only country where no snakes live.
2. Sea snakes are more dangerous than land snakes
Although we already know about the dangers of land snakes, the truth is… sea snakes are much more dangerous. Although very aggressive, the venom of land snakes is known to be less poisonous than sea snakes, as well as being much easier to deal with than them. In most cases, sea snake bites have a much higher mortality rate than land snakes.
The most famous is probably the Belcher sea snake, when they possess venom that can kill 1000 people with a small amount, 10 times more powerful than the most venomous snake on land, the domestic Taipan snake. But it is also relatively lucky, when Belcher does not always inject their venom into the victim’s body.
3. Snakes move very fast
Don’t think they have no legs but think they move slowly. In contrast, snakes have the ability to move extremely fast. The most famous are the Black Mamba, when they can crawl at a speed of nearly 20km/h, faster than the average human running speed; Or the Peringuey viper can slither at a speed of 29km/h in the sand.
So, even if you don’t know if it’s venomous or not, if you just see a poisonous snake, it’s best to run away immediately, for your safety.
4. Snakes are more useful than dangerous
There is a truth that you may not know, that is… wherever there are many snakes, up to 80% of them are ecologically balanced. Snakes help humans by hunting harmful animals like mice and other rodents.
Besides, the venom of some snakes also contains substances that help lower blood pressure, stop bleeding, relieve pain, … and have a lot of potential to cure cancer. Of course, they can also be used to make anti-venom serums, which can save lives of people bitten by snakes.
5. “Collective pleasure”
It sounds pretty shocking, but it’s a real phenomenon. If you want to challenge yourself, book a flight to Manitoba, Canada in the spring.
After 8 months of hibernation, the spring of the new year comes, they will come out of their burrows and begin to perform one of the most important tasks in their lives: sex. Yes, spring is their breeding season, and every time this day comes, about 75,000 garters congregate in Narcissee Snake Cave – a system of limestone caves in the region.
Yes, you didn’t misread it, it’s 75,000. They will form a swarm known as “pairing spheres”, consisting of about 100 male snakes trying to woo a single female snake. Basically, the ratio of male and female is very different, so the whole herd of 75,000 snakes… not sure there are 100 females.
Of course, corsets are relatively harmless, but if you try to disrupt their dating scenes, they will secrete a rather strange fluid. Although not poisonous, the liquid is much more frightening than poison, because it is very rotten.
