Snakes are ectothermic, venomous animals. Their diet consists of insects and they shed their skin periodically. 파충류샵 Learn more about the different types of snakes. Also discover how they get their name. They live in tropical areas. They have a limited temperature range. They don’t need a constant metabolism, which makes them able to go long periods without eating.
Snakes are ectothermic
Most snakes are ectothermic, meaning they need an external source of heat to maintain their body temperature. This is quite different from mammals, who have an internal furnace. Because snakes can go for long periods without eating, they must have a distinct evolutionary advantage. Female snakes, for example, can lose as much as 40 percent of their weight.
They are venomous
Snakes are venomous animals that inject venom into their prey with a lightning-fast bite. This venom is highly toxic and can kill, incapacitate, or paralyze their prey. Venom is released by snakes as a defense mechanism against predators. It contains special enzymes that cause damage to the prey’s innard tissues and nervous system. It also disrupts blood clotting. Venom can also affect the cardiovascular system, tissues, and organs.
They feed on insects
Snakes are a beneficial part of an ecosystem. They feed on insects and rodents and can help keep unwanted animals away from homes. However, they are not venomous.
They shed their skin
When snakes shed their skin, the old scales separate from the epidermis. Fluid from the lymph system fills the space between the old scales.
They have no external limbs
Despite their name, snakes do not have external limbs. However, fossils show that snakes once had legs. They evolved from terrestrial lizards around 163.5 million years ago. One of the earliest known snakes was the Eophis underwoodi, a small snake that lived in southern England.
They are cold-blooded
Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles. This means that they rely on heat from the environment to regulate their body temperature. They spend much of their day basking in the sun, and during the night, they hibernate. This helps them survive in environments with scarce food resources. Because snakes are cold-blooded, they are able to survive in lower temperatures than other types of reptiles. Cold-blooded reptiles can survive in temperatures as low as 36 degrees Fahrenheit.
They have no external ears
Snakes have no external ears and they use their internal ears to hear sounds. Snakes have no eardrums and no pinna, but they do have well-developed inner ear structures. Their internal ears are attached to their jaw bones, which rest on the ground while they slither.
They taste the air with their tongues
Snakes use their forked tongues to taste and smell things in the air. This allows them to collect small particles in the air, which they then deliver to their vomeronasal organ, which is located just behind the nose. Snakes also use their tongues to track pheromone trails of potential mates.
They have good eyesight
Snakes have excellent eyesight despite their limbless bodies and lack of eyelids. The lining surrounding the eye is thin and compensates for the absence of limbs. This allows them to wiggle around the forest floor and push through thick undergrowth. They can also enlarge their pupils during darkness to allow more light into their eyes. Their small eyelids and lack of limbs make them vulnerable to sand and other debris, but this is their only defense against predators.