Truth: Rattlesnakes add a new rattle segment to
their tail each time they shed a layer of skin.
This being said, rattlesnakes may shed their skin several times a year. Also, it is not uncommon for a rattlesnake to
break off segments of the rattle due to various activities. For these reasons, one cannot accurately
determine the age of a rattlesnake by the number of rattle segments. There is no definitive way to visually
determine the age of a rattlesnake.
Myth: Rattlesnakes always rattle before they are about
to strike.
Truth: The rattlesnake picks up the vibration of
animals or humans close-by through the ground.
If the approaching animal or person comes too close for the snake’s
comfort, a warning signal (the rattle) may occur. However, if the human or animal is lighter in
weight (such as a small child) or the snake did not feel the vibration, a
warning rattle may not occur. This could
result in a surprise strike if the snake is too startled.
Myth: Snakes always coil when they are about to
strike.
Truth: Absolutely not true! A snake does not need to be coiled to strike
and it can successfully strike from almost any position. However, in a coiled position, the snake has
a greater striking distance and accuracy.
In addition, a snake that is grabbed can quickly turn and make a strike
at the hand holding it. Always have
caution while handling snakes.
Myth: Female snakes hide their young inside their
mouth for protection.
Truth: North American water snakes (Nerodia spp.) and garter snakes (Thamnophis spp.) have live births. In this scenario, the juveniles do not emerge
from eggs laid by the mother, but break free from placental sacs. In some cases, the juveniles are stillborn,
or are too weak to break out of the placenta, and as a result suffocate. After giving birth, the female is in a
weakened state and looks for any source of energy, including her own stillborn
or deceased young. The myth may have
originated from people seeing stillborn juvenile tails sticking out of the
mouth of the female. Seeing the tails
could have brought the conclusion that the mother was defending her young while
they slithered into her mouth.
Myth: You can tell a venomous snake from a
non-venomous snake by the shape of its head.
A venomous snake will have an arrow shaped head.
Truth: The shape of the head has nothing to do with
whether the snake is venomous or non-venomous.
For example, the midland/northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) often has an arrow shaped head, but is in no way
venomous. In contrast, the eastern coral
snake (Micrurus fulvius) is a perfect
example of a venomous snake with no arrow shaped head (see picture above). This myth may have originated with the arrow
shaped head usually associated with snakes in the family Viperidae. This family consists of, but is not limited
to, the copperhead (Agkistrodon contortix),
the massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus),
and the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus
horridus). These snakes all have a
characteristic arrow shaped head and are highly venomous. Confusion pertaining to the signature arrow shaped
head of the Viperidae may have led to the false conclusion that all arrow
headed snakes are venomous.
More:
http://www.texassnakes.net/myths.html
http://www.reptilechannel.com/kid-corner/beyond-beginners/bad-snake-myths.aspx
http://www.oplin.org/snake/myths%20truths/mythstruths.html
2 comments:
Interesting...hadn't heard the one about females hiding the offspring in her mouth...wait until we get to parental care. Some amphibians raise their young in their stomachs!
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