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Constriction
Constriction is a method used by several snake species to kill or subdue their prey. Although some species of venomous and mildly venomous snakes do use constriction to subdue their prey, most snakes which use constriction lack venom. The snake strikes at its prey and holds on, pulling the prey into its coils or, in the case of very large prey, pulling itself onto the prey. The snake then wraps one or two loops around the prey, forming a constriction coil. The snake monitors the prey's heartbeat to ascertain it is dead. This can be a physically demanding and potentially dangerous procedure for the snake, because its metabolism is accelerated up to sevenfold and it becomes vulnerable to attack by another predator. Contrary to myth, the snake does not generally crush the prey, or break its bones. However, wild anacondas have been observed to cause broken bones in large prey. Also contrary to prior belief, the snake does not suffocate the victim. Instead, a study of boa cons ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boa Constrictor
The boa constrictor (scientific name also ''Boa constrictor''), also known as the common boa, is a species of large, non-venomous, heavy-bodied snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity. The boa constrictor is a member of the Family (biology), family Boidae. The species is native to tropical South America. A staple of private collections and public displays, its color pattern is highly variable yet distinctive. Four subspecies are recognized. Common names Though all Boidae, boids are indeed Constriction, constrictors, only ''Boa constrictor'' (and its subspecies) is commonly referred to, in English language, English, as a boa constrictor—an example of a species being referred to colloquially using its scientific Binomial nomenclature, binomial name. The species and subspecies of ''B. constrictor'' are part of a variable, diverse group of New World boids referred to as "red-tailed" boas, comprising the species ''Boa constrictor'' and ''Boa imperator''. Within the exot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Snake
Snakes are elongated limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (). Cladistically squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales much like other members of the group. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more joints than their lizard ancestors and relatives, enabling them to swallow prey much larger than their heads ( cranial kinesis). To accommodate their narrow bodies, snakes' paired organs (such as kidneys) appear one in front of the other instead of side by side, and most only have one functional lung. Some species retain a pelvic girdle with a pair of vestigial claws on either side of the cloaca. Lizards have independently evolved elongate bodies without limbs or with greatly reduced limbs at least twenty-five times via convergent evolution, leading to many lineages of legless lizards. These resemble snakes, but several common groups of legless lizards have eyelids and external ears, which snakes lack, althoug ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ctenosaura
''Ctenosaura'' is a lizard genus commonly known as spinytail iguanas or ctenosaurs. The genus is part of the large lizard family Iguanidae and is native to Mexico and Central America. The name is derived from two Greek words: (), meaning "comb" (referring to the comblike spines on the lizard's back and tail), and (), meaning "lizard". Description The species range in size (total length, including the tail) from about to well over . The distinctive feature of this genus is the presence of enlarged, spiny scales on the tail. Ecology and natural history Ctenosaurs are generally omnivorous, feeding on fruits, flowers, foliage, and small animals. While studying physiological correlates of locomotion in lizards, a "burst speed" of 34.6 km/h (21.5 miles/h) was recorded by a black spiny-tail iguana ('' Ctenosaura similis''), which is the highest speed reported for a lizard.Garland, Theodore., Jr. 1984. ''Physiological correlates of locomotory performance in a lizard: an allom ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pythonidae
The Pythonidae, commonly known as pythons, are a Family (biology), family of Venomous snake, nonvenomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia. Among its members are some of the largest snakes in the world. Ten Genus, genera and 39 species are currently recognized. Being naturally non-venomous, pythons must constrict their prey to induce cardiac arrest prior to consumption. Pythons will typically strike at and bite their prey of choice to gain hold of it; they then must use physical strength to constrict their prey, by coiling their muscular bodies around the animal, effectively suffocating it before swallowing whole. This is in stark contrast to venomous snakes such as the rattlesnake, for example, which delivers a swift, venomous bite but releases, waiting as the prey succumbs to envenomation before being consumed. Collectively, the pythons are well-documented and studied as constrictors, much like other non-venomous snakes, including the Boidae, boas and even kingsnakes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Simoselaps
''Simoselaps'', or Australian coral snakes, is a genus composed of 12 species of venomous elapid snakes. Geographic range Species of the genus ''Simoselaps'' are found throughout Australia. Description Australian coral snakes are small snakes. They have smooth and polished scales, shovel-shaped snouts, and are brightly marked with bands or annuli. Habitat and behavior Species of ''Simoselaps'' are found mainly in arid regions. They are burrowing snakes which move beneath the surface through loose sand or soil. At night they come to the surface to feed on small lizards and reptile eggs. Reproduction All species of Australian coral snakes are oviparous and lay clutches of three to five eggs. Species Several of the above species are sometimes placed in the genera ''Brachyurophis ''Brachyurophis'' is a genus of elapid snakes known as shovel-nosed snakes, so named because of their shovel-nosed snout which is used to burrow. The genus has eight recognized species, which are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pseudonaja
''Pseudonaja'' is a genus of highly venomous elapid snakes native to Australia. Species of this genus are known commonly as brown snakes and are considered to be some of the most dangerous snakes in the world; even young snakes are capable of delivering a fatal envenomation to a human. Despite its common name, the king brown snake (''Pseudechis australis'') is not a brown snake, but a member of the genus '' Pseudechis'', commonly known as black snakes. Species These species and subspecies are recognized: *'' Pseudonaja affinis'' Günther, 1872 — dugite or spotted brown snake **''P. a. affinis'' Günther, 1872 — coastal mainland Western Australia **''P. a. exilis'' Storr, 1989 — mainland Western Australia and Rottnest Island **''P. a. tanneri'' ( Worrell, 1961) — mainland Western Australia, Boxer Island, and other islands *'' Pseudonaja aspidorhyncha'' ( F. McCoy, 1879) strap-snouted brown snake — inland eastern Australia *'' Pseudonaja guttata'' ( Parker, 1926) — ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elapid
Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids , from , variant of "sea-fish") is a family (biology), family of snakes characterized by their permanently erect fangs at the front of the mouth. Most elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus ''Emydocephalus''. Many members of this family exhibit a threat display of rearing upwards while spreading out a neck flap. Elapids are endemic to tropics, tropical and subtropics, subtropical regions around the world, with terrestrial forms in Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Americas and marine forms in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Members of the family have a wide range of sizes, from the white-lipped snake to the king cobra. Most species have neurotoxins, neurotoxic venom that is channeled by their hollow fangs, and some may contain other toxic components in varying proportions. The family includes 55 genera with around 360 species and over 170 subspecies. Description terrestrial animal, Terrestrial elapids look sim ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brown Tree Snake
The brown tree snake (''Boiga irregularis''), also known as the brown catsnake, is an arboreal rear-fanged colubrid snake native to eastern and northern coastal Australia, eastern Indonesia (Sulawesi to Papua), Papua New Guinea, and many islands in northwestern Melanesia. The snake is slender, in order to facilitate climbing, and can reach up to 2 metres in length. Its coloration may also vary, some being brown, green, or even red. Brown tree snakes prey on many things, ranging from invertebrates to birds, and even some smaller mammals. It is one of the very few Colubridae, colubrids found in Australia, where elapids are more common. Due to an accidental introduction after the events of World War II, this snake is now infamous for being an invasive species responsible for Local extinction, extirpating the majority of the native bird population in Guam. Currently, efforts are being made to reduce and control the population on Guam and prevent the snake from spreading to other loca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boiga
''Boiga'' is a large genus of rear-fanged, mildly venomous snakes, known commonly as cat-eyed snakes or simply cat snakes, in the family Colubridae. Species of the genus ''Boiga'' are native to southeast Asia, India, and Australia, but due to their extremely hardy nature and adaptability, have spread to many other suitable habitats around the world. There are 38 recognized species in the genus. According to the study done by Jiří Smíd regarding Old World cat snakes, the ancestor of the cat snake originated in Africa, from where it diversified and expanded to other countries. Despite this diversity however, the different species have very similar needs in terms of temperature and precipitation. Species and subspecies The following species and subspecies are recognized as being valid. *'' Boiga andamanensis'' – Andaman cat snake *'' Boiga angulata'' – Leyte cat snake – Philippines *'' Boiga barnesii'' – Barnes' cat snake – Sri Lanka *'' Boiga beddomei'' – Bed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
The western terrestrial garter snake (''Thamnophis elegans'') is a western North American species of colubrid snake. At least five subspecies are recognized. Description Most western terrestrial garter snakes have a yellow, light orange, or white dorsal stripe, accompanied by two stripes of the same color, one on each side. Some varieties have red or black spots between the dorsal stripe and the side stripes. It is an immensely variable species, and even the most experienced herpetologists have trouble with its identification. They are medium-sized snakes, usually . Like many species of North American garter snake, the western terrestrial garter snake possesses a mildly venomous saliva. Specimens collected from Idaho and Washington (state), Washington produced venom with myonecrotic (muscle tissue-killing) effects when injected into the gastrocnemius muscles of mice. Several cases of mild human envenomation with local edema and other symptoms (but without any systemic symptoms) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pit Vipers
The Crotalinae, commonly known as pit vipers,Mehrtens JM (1987). ''Living Snakes of the World in Color''. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. . or pit adders, are a subfamily of vipers found in Asia and the Americas. Like all other vipers, they are venomous. They are distinguished by the presence of a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on both sides of the head. Currently, 23 genera and 155 species are recognized: These are also the only viperids found in the Americas. The groups of snakes represented here include rattlesnakes, lanceheads, and Asian pit vipers. The type genus for this subfamily is '' Crotalus'', of which the type species is the timber rattlesnake, ''C. horridus''. These snakes range in size from the diminutive hump-nosed viper, '' Hypnale hypnale'', that grows to a typical total length (including tail) of only , to the bushmaster, '' Lachesis muta'', a species known to reach a maximum total length of in length. This subfam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
