ok so i was perusing the newswire for all the wierd and wacky when i saw...
OMG it's National Serpent Day!! Horray!
from National Day Calendar: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/nati...day-february-1
here's the article i saw. simple, very neat and great for kids: https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed...r-rad-reptilesNATIONAL SERPENT DAY
Across religions and cultures, the serpent has been used as a symbol of evil, medicine, fertility and much more. Recognizing serpents and snakes alike, February 1st observes National Serpent Day.
Around the world, there are over 3,000 species of snakes. The world’s smallest snake is the Barbados thread snake. This serpent is smaller than a night crawler at about 4 inches.
In comparison, the longest snake is the reticulated python and the heaviest is the green anaconda.
SNAKE FACTS
-- Only 1/8 of the known species are venomous.
-- Their upper and lower jaw separate to allow snakes to consume prey up to three times larger than the diameter of their head.
-- Snakes eat their prey whole.
-- Most snakes are nocturnal.
-- Their tongue is used to smell their air.
-- Snakes are cold-blooded, or ectotherms, and must sun themselves to regulate their body temperatures.
-- While most snakes lay eggs, some give live birth.
-- From anti-tumor treatments to antibacterial properties, snake venom has been studied for medical purposes for many years.
HOW TO CELEBRATE
Do some research on snakes or go to a zoo to see some in person. Use #NationalSerpentDay to post on social media.
Educators, visit the National Day Calendar Classroom pages for activities surrounding National Serpent Day.
HISTORY
Within our research, we were unable to identify the creator of National Serpent Day.
There are over 1,500 national days. Don’t miss a single one. Celebrate Every Day with National Day Calendar!
A snake that can “fly,” plus 6 other rad reptiles
February 1 is National Serpent Day. Serpent is another word for snake. There are almost 3,000 different snake species in the world, and you can find them on every continent except Antarctica.
Let’s celebrate these radical reptiles and see who slithered onto our list of the coolest snakes ever.
Malagasy leaf-nosed snake
For the Malagasy leaf-nosed snake, the name says it all. That’s right — it looks like it has a leaf for a nose! Researchers aren’t sure why, but the leafy nose could help this snake blend into its natural jungle habitat.
Feathered tree viper
This snake may be native to Central Africa, but it looks out of this world! It doesn’t really have feathers, they’re actually long scales that give the feathered tree viper its shaggy appearance.
Chrysopelea (Golden flying snake)
Native to Southeast Asia, the flying snake species prefer to travel by air (to avoid those pesky predators on the jungle floor, of course!). Instead, this snake launches itself from tree to tree and has the ability to flatten and curve its body so it glides like a Frisbee!
Horned viper
We’re used to seeing horns on a rhinoceros or a bull, but not on a snake! These desert dwellers look a little devilish but their ‘horns’ are just really long scales. They protect the horned viper’s eyes from sand and help them camouflage in desert brush.
Barbados threadsnake
The world’s smallest snake can be found on the Caribbean island of Barbados! The average length of a Barbados threadsnake is only 10 centimetres long and are about as wide as a spaghetti noodle.
Olive sea snake
This snake prefers to swim, not slither! It has a large lung that helps it hold its breathe underwater for hours. Its paddle-like tail makes it a great swimmer and this snake can even sense light! This allows the olive sea snake to find dark places in the coral reefs to hide from predators.
Reticulated python
The reticulated python is the world’s longest snake! In the wild, they can grow up to 6.5 metres long and weigh up to 75 kilograms. But a pet python named Medusa in Kansas City, U.S.A., took the Guinness World Record for the longest living snake in captivity. Medusa is 7.67 metres long and weighs 158 kilograms!
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