With intricate patterns, slithering bodies and the unique abilities, snakes are fascinating creatures in the animal kingdom. In this article, you will learn interesting facts about snakes, as well as learning what makes a tuatara so special.
Record for Oldest Snake
A snake named Popeye lived at the Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania for 40 years 3 months and 14 days , making him the oldest snake to live in captivity. This is the best record regarding age for the oldest snake in the world. The snake died on April 15, 1977.
Lengthy and Deadly
Living in the southeast part of Asia and India, the venom that comes from just one bite associated with the king cobra is enough to kill an elephant. This amount is also enough to take the lives of 20 people. Another scary feature of the snake is that it is the longest snake to have venom. It can reach a length of 12 to 15 feet. If that wasn’t the worse of it, the snake species can additionally stand tall enough to look an adult human straight in the eye.
Heightened Eyesight
Any other animal with nocturnal vision cannot detect colors at night. However, the helmeted gecko is an exception to the rule because it can see colors in the middle of darkness. Scientists believe the reptile is able to because of the higher density of color-sensitive large cone cells found in the retinas of the lizard.
The Most Dangerous Snakes
A bite by a snake with a venomous attack can lead to paralysis and death. All over the world, there are snake species that have the ability to take the life of a human. However, it is Australia that is home to the most species of venomous snakes. On the top ten lists of most dangerous snakes (in terms of venom), Australia boasts nine. A few to be on the lookout for if you ever vacation “down under” include the inland taipan, the eastern brown snake, the coastal taipan, and the tiger snake.
What is a Tuatara?
The tuatara is a creature often mistaken for a lizard that scientists enjoy studying when they wish to investigate the evolution of lizards and snakes, as well as fill in information about the habits and appearance of the earliest diapsids, which did include dinosaurs. The creatures are the only living representation of an extinct group of retiles that lived at the same time as dinosaurs.
There are only two species of tuatara in the world and both call islands off the main coast of New Zealand their home. The largest kind is called the Brothers Island tuatara, which is near extinction. The reptile can reach a length of 2 feet 6 inches and reach a weight of a little over 3 pounds.