A snake is a legless, carnivorous reptile of the suborder Serpentes. They are found on every continent except Antarctica and come in a wide variety of sizes, from a few inches to over 20 feet long.
Physical Description
Snakes have a long, flexible body and are covered in scales. They do not have eyelids, so they cannot blink. Their forked tongue, which they flick in and out, is used to "taste" the air and pick up chemical signals to find prey and mates. They have a flexible jaw structure that allows them to swallow prey much larger than their own head.
Habitat and Diet
Snakes live in a vast range of habitats, including forests, deserts, grasslands, oceans, and lakes. They are carnivores that eat a wide variety of prey, from insects and eggs to birds and mammals. Some snakes, like boas and pythons, kill their prey by constriction, while others, like vipers and cobras, use venom.
Types of Snakes
There are over 3,000 species of snakes in the world. They can be broadly categorized as:
- Non-venomous: These snakes, such as boas, pythons, and garter snakes, kill their prey by constriction or simply swallow them whole.
- Venomous: These snakes, such as rattlesnakes, cobras, and vipers, use venom to subdue their prey.
- Harmless: Many snakes are non-venomous and pose no threat to humans.
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