Snake Myths And Facts
1) Snakes Go Blind During the Heat of Summer
It still surprises me how many people believe this myth. Snakes do not simply go blind based on temperature or time of year. However, snakes close to shedding their skins do experience a temporary loss or inhibition of vision as their old ocular scales, protective scales covering the eyes, begin to separate from new ones developing underneath.
During this time, the eyes appear a milky gray-blue, and the snake’s ability to see is minimal. In captivity, this period of temporary blindness may happen anytime before a shed, but snakes in the wild typically do not always eat as much as their captive counterparts, so they often shed old skins less frequently. In nature, especially in the southern United States, a great many snakes slip into a shed cycle in late summer, so perhaps the myth that all snakes “go blind” was born during this time of year.
It still surprises me how many people believe this myth. Snakes do not simply go blind based on temperature or time of year. However, snakes close to shedding their skins do experience a temporary loss or inhibition of vision as their old ocular scales, protective scales covering the eyes, begin to separate from new ones developing underneath.
During this time, the eyes appear a milky gray-blue, and the snake’s ability to see is minimal. In captivity, this period of temporary blindness may happen anytime before a shed, but snakes in the wild typically do not always eat as much as their captive counterparts, so they often shed old skins less frequently. In nature, especially in the southern United States, a great many snakes slip into a shed cycle in late summer, so perhaps the myth that all snakes “go blind” was born during this time of year.
2)Snakes chase people.
Many people who have spent time outdoors have a story about being chased by snakes. But herpetologists, people who study reptiles and amphibians, never seem to have this experience. They find that snakes are always trying to escape. To understand this perceived behavior of a snake chasing someone, one must first realize that a snake has nothing to gain by chasing a person. A snake obviously could not eat a person and so is not looking for food. They are not vengeful and do not chase people out of sheer hate
Many people who have spent time outdoors have a story about being chased by snakes. But herpetologists, people who study reptiles and amphibians, never seem to have this experience. They find that snakes are always trying to escape. To understand this perceived behavior of a snake chasing someone, one must first realize that a snake has nothing to gain by chasing a person. A snake obviously could not eat a person and so is not looking for food. They are not vengeful and do not chase people out of sheer hate
3) Rattlesnakes always add one rattle a year.
A rattlesnake adds one rattle every time it sheds its skin. Snakes may shed several times in the course of a year, each time adding a new rattle. Rattles also may break off. Determining a snake's age by counting rattles usually results in an inaccurate estimate of the snake's age.
A rattlesnake adds one rattle every time it sheds its skin. Snakes may shed several times in the course of a year, each time adding a new rattle. Rattles also may break off. Determining a snake's age by counting rattles usually results in an inaccurate estimate of the snake's age.
4)snakes drink milk.
The real fact is that snakes hate milk and it is scientifically proved that when snakes are forced to drink milk they get sick.
3. It is falsely believed that snakes can listen to music. Snakes never dance to the tune of the snake charmers. In fact snakes cannot hear the music it is the movement of the snake charmer that forces the snakes to follow a particular movement.
The real fact is that snakes hate milk and it is scientifically proved that when snakes are forced to drink milk they get sick.
3. It is falsely believed that snakes can listen to music. Snakes never dance to the tune of the snake charmers. In fact snakes cannot hear the music it is the movement of the snake charmer that forces the snakes to follow a particular movement.
5)It is a common myth that snakes dance to been played by charmers.
Snakes are normally unresponsive. They are unable to hear the sounds that are transmitted in the air. Their body helps to catch the vibrations from the surface. Snakes believe that the moving charmer & his instruments are going to attack them so they quickly change their position & constantly sway their heads in the direction of instruments. This is a safeguard posture.
Snakes are normally unresponsive. They are unable to hear the sounds that are transmitted in the air. Their body helps to catch the vibrations from the surface. Snakes believe that the moving charmer & his instruments are going to attack them so they quickly change their position & constantly sway their heads in the direction of instruments. This is a safeguard posture.
6) Bite received from a snake in water is not poisonous.
Another false belief is that a bite received from a snake in water is not poisonous but the fact is that venomous snakes either when bitten on land or on water is equally poisonous.
Another false belief is that a bite received from a snake in water is not poisonous but the fact is that venomous snakes either when bitten on land or on water is equally poisonous.
7)Many people believe that there are ‘Two-headed’ snakes.
This myth about ‘Two-headed’ snakes generally gets popularized by the snake-charmers who always try to prolong this mythological state about snakes in India so that they can persist in their job of attracting huge crowds towards their snake shows. Actually ‘Two-headed’ snake does not exist.
This myth about ‘Two-headed’ snakes generally gets popularized by the snake-charmers who always try to prolong this mythological state about snakes in India so that they can persist in their job of attracting huge crowds towards their snake shows. Actually ‘Two-headed’ snake does not exist.
0 comments:
Post a Comment