Fun Snake Facts

[frankykeno]

Oh thank you for the information about snake's eyesight! That's one aspect I've haven't delved into yet (along with my "exactly how do snakes do it" current research project). Pretty neat that since rodents are known for marking their areas with urine, their predator developed eyesight that can "see" that urine in the pitch dark....boy nature is impressive isn't it!

Glad you found this thread interesting Sarah! I've been tucking all this information away for ages and though it might be fun to put it here and watch it grow as others contributed their own information.

[JLC]

'Tis Stickied! This is just the COOLEST thread! Thanks Jo, and to everyone else who participates by adding new info!!

[frankykeno]

Awww thank you Judy! I'm glad to see that this information will stay available to newcomers and even folks that have had snakes awhile and might learn something new and cool about these amazing creatures.

[recycling goddess]

well i for one... have learned so much!

thanks judy!

[jglass38]

Great info everyone!

[4theSNAKElady]

There is such a thing as a "flying snake" that can spread it's ribs and glide from treetop to treetop. Also, ALL snakes can swim. Some snakes give live birth, and some lay eggs. I think It would be neat to research a snakes "crushing power" force of lbs per sq. inch? something like that? I would do it, but I'm at work..

[lillyorchid]

What awesome awesome info you posted Jo!

[Kagez28]

i've been doing alot of research on snake venom. mainly because im going to school for toxicology, an im doing an undergrad research project on it. so i've been learning alot of things i really didn't know about snakes. i don't own any venomous species but i have always bee fascinated by them...

[engywook]

Great thread! In response to "crushing power", Wikipedia reports that a gopher snake crushing a mouse exerts about 6-30kPa (about 0.9-4.5 lbs. per square inch).

[frankykeno]

Speaking of venom....

- There's are around 3,000 species of snakes worldwide but only about 450 carry any kind of venom, only about half of those have venom dangerous enough to kill humans.

- Pit viper venom products are used to prevent post-surgical clotting in cardiac patients.

- There is a study going on with copperhead viper venom that is showing the protein from this venom can slow the growth of breast cancer cells.

- One of the most exciting current studies uses a drug created from the venom from Malayan pit viper. It may save a lot of stroke victims and give them a better post-stroke quality of life. Current "clot busting" drugs must be given within 3 hours of the stroke, but this new drug can be given within 6 hours. Doubling this window of opportunity is a huge step forward in stroke treatment especially with an aging US population.