National Serpent Day

1 February is National Serpent Day, and celebrates all types of serpents, commonly referred to as snakes. The serpent has been used as a symbol of evil, medicine, fertility and many other things across many religions and cultures.

There are more than 3 000 species of snakes around the world. The world’s smallest snake – which is only four inches long – is the Barbados thread snake.

On the other end of the scale, the longest snake in the world is the reticulated python, and the heaviest is the green anaconda.

To celebrate today, do some research on snakes or visit a zoo to see some in person. Here are some interesting snake facts:

– Only one eighth of the known snake species are venomous

– To allow them to consume prey up to three times larger than the diameter of their head, their upper and lower jaws separate

– Snakes eat their prey whole

– Most snakes are nocturnal

– They use their tongues to smell the air

– Because they are cold blooded, snakes must sun themselves to regulate their body temperature

– Although most snakes lay eggs, there are some who give birth to live offspring

– Snake venom has been studied for medical purposes for many years. Snake venom can be used for many purposes, such as anti-tumor treatments and its anti-bacterial properties.

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