29/01/2025
Sssnakes can "Hear" you, friend. π
(check out Taylor's World @ Dennis Taylor Easy Rock Boracay )
"I can hear you, friend."
Yeah, ye heard it right! Snakes, despite no visible ears can hear!
It has long been debated by Herpetologists and ordinary people alike whether or not snakes can hear. Experiments have shown that despite no visible ears like most animals, snakes respond to airborne sound frequencies. They can also sense vibrations from the ground and can gauge the size of their prey and/or other predators without necessarily looking! How they "hear" though is still a mystery.
Other wonderful features of snakes are -
They are found almost everywhere.
From oceans to mountains and forests to deserts, snakes inhabit nearly every ecosystem on Earth!
Some give live birth while others lay eggs.
Mothers of some snake species stay with their eggs or babies to protect them from predators.
They truly come in ALL sizes.
This ranges from Barbados threadsnakes, who weigh less than a paperclip and can coil up on a U.S. quarter, to green anacondas that can weigh over 200 lbs!
Pigments that color a snakeβs skin run the visible spectrum of colorβeven into ultraviolet wavelengths!
Color patterns may serve to camouflage, confuse, gain solar heat and signal (for example, warning colors). Some species, like the Arizona black rattlesnake, can lighten and darken dramatically for reasons not well understood.
Of almost 4,000 known species of snake, about 600 are considered venomous.
Venoms likely evolved from digestive enzymes, becoming important for subduing prey and secondarily as a defensive aid.
Snakes and birds/fowls are closely related via the Reptilian ancestry as evidenced by the dinosaurs and its evolution!
In mythology, snakes are believed to be descendants of Dragons and other giant reptiles from the past and are considered gods in various beliefs.
In Chinese traditions, the snake is also considered a βsmall dragonβ and has a unique presence. The animal symbolises wisdom, spirituality, elegance and renewal.
Often misunderstood and known for its volatile nature, snakes are often depicted as malevolent creatures like the "serpent" mentioned in the Bible.
But one thing is for sure, these majestic beings are not your typical "pet". Reptiles, they aren't cute and are not to be messed up with! π§