56 Super Interesting Facts about Snakes [Free Fact Cards]

Ready to slither through the world of snakes and discover some truly interesting facts about snakes? Shed your fears and slide on over as we share some astonishing snake facts with you!

Snakes sound pretty scary at first, but did you know that they are pretty interesting if you can get past your initial fears of snakes? They have all kinds of cool tricks up their scales, and we are about to dive in and learn all about them.

Did you know that snakes are like the magicians of the animal kingdom? It is true. They can sort of “disappear” as they blend in with their surroundings. It’s almost like they have an invisible cloak made of scales. They are so great at camouflaging themselves that you may walk right by them and not even know they are there!

But what is more fascinating than this is that most snakes are more scared of you than you are of them!

Most snakes are carnivores, which means they eat meat, so how do they catch their food? They have some jaw-dropping skills! Their jaw, in fact, can stretch really wide and swallow food that is bigger than their head! It would be like us eating an entire watermelon all in one bite!

Snakes are found worldwide except for Antarctica and some other really cold places!

So, are you ready to be absolutely amazed with even more fun and fantastic facts about snakes? Trust me, there is so much more to learn. So let’s sliter through these facts and explore together! Don’t forget to download your free snake fact cards below! Also, stop by and grab our snake headband craft project as well!

For more fun facts, you are not going to want to miss our facts about pigs and our facts about giraffes.

Snake Facts You Likely Didn’t Know!

1. Snakes can move in a straight line. This is called rectilinear locomotion. 
2. Snakes can digest everything but hair, claws, and feathers.
3. Snakes don’t have excellent eyesight. Most snake species don’t have color vision.
4. There are two types of snake venom – Hemotoxic venom attacks the blood, while neurotoxic venom targets the nervous system. Neurotoxic venom is considered much more dangerous.
5. Snakes don’t have eyelids. 

6. Several species of snakes have been discovered that are mostly scaleless, but even those have scales on their bellies.
7. Pit vipers, boa constrictors, and pythons can sense heat.
8. Snakes do not hibernate but enter a state of reduced metabolic rate called BRUMATION during cooler weather periods. 
9. Snakes only eat 6-30 meals a year.
10. Snakes are crucial predators that help control rodent populations.

11. The spitting cobra can eject venom with accuracy up to 9 feet away.
12. The keelback snake has specialized glands in its neck that release a foul-smelling substance as a defense.
13. Brightly-colored snakes are usually venomous, although some harmless species mimic them as a defense. 
14. The longest snake is the reticulated python.
15. Some sea snakes can breathe partially through their skin, allowing them to stay underwater longer.

16. Snakes don’t have lymph nodes.
17. Snakes have five forms of locomotion; these are rectilinear locomotion, sidewinding, concertina locomotion, serpentine Locomotion, and undulatory locomotion.
18. Snake poop looks like bird droppings.
19. Venomous snakes have special glands and teeth (fangs) to inject venom into their prey. Venom – is a highly modified saliva, it immobilizes prey and also aids in digestion by breaking down food. 
20. Snakes shed their skin between 4 and 12 times a year.

21. The Titanoboa was the biggest snake fossil ever found. The horned viper’s unique horns above its eyes help camouflage it in its environment.
22. Snake venom has a variety of different useful chemical compounds. Scientists are working with copperhead snakes and using their venom to create new cancer-fighting drugs.
23. The venomous snakes to look out for are the black mamba, king cobra, inland taipan, plus lots more.
24.  Australia has around 140 species of land snakes and around 32 species of sea snakes.
25. Captive snakes can live up to 170 years, while wild snakes can reach 100.

26. Snakes are shy and not aggressive or territorial. They only strike to eat or defend themselves when necessary.
27. Almost all snakes are covered in scales and as reptiles, they’re cold-blooded and must regulate their body temperature externally. 
28. Out of 725 venomous species, only 250 can kill a human.
29. The decapitated snakehead is still able to bite and inject venom. 
30. Snakes are everywhere except in Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand. 

31. Snakes use their tongues to smell.
32. Snakes are a reptile 
33. The green anaconda is the heaviest snake, while the reticulated python is the longest.
34. Snakes are Ectotherms, meaning snakes rely on their environment to keep them warm and their bodies stable.
35. About once a month snakes shed their skin, a process called ecdysis that makes room for growth and gets rid of parasites.

36. Snakes hear using vibrations in their jaw bones.
37. The Barbados thread snake is the smallest snake species – This species is only around 3.94 inches (10 cm) long and the width of a spaghetti noodle. 
38. When a snake feeds, they unhinge their jaw to swallow prey whole.
39. Hognose snakes have a unique defensive behavior called death feigning. When they are threatened, they will roll over onto their backs, release a foul odor, stick out their tongues, and pretend to be dead!
40. Snakes only have one lung.

41. Venom is used to treat high blood pressure – Captopril was the first medicine approved by the FDA in 1988 to treat high blood pressure. It was made using the venom of the Brazilian Viper.
42. The term snake comes from the Proto-Indo-European word *(s)nēg-o- which means “to crawl” or “to creep.”
43. Ophidiophobia means an intense fear of snakes. 
44. Ophiology is the Study of Snakes.
45. Snake scales (and rattlesnake rattles) contain keratin – the same substance found in human hair and nails.

46. Snakes have flexible jaws so they can eat prey that are bigger than them. They then digest their prey with their strong stomach acid.
47. The fastest snake can travel up to 12 miles per hour.
48. Snakes are known to be able to jump from object to object.
49. A snake skeleton has 600-1800 bones, depending on the species.
50. About 600 snakes are venomous, and only about 200—seven percent—can kill or significantly wound a human.

51.  Snakes have a limited amount of venom available at any given time. 
52. Not all snakes lay eggs.
53. Most snakes live on land.
54. Snakes are carnivorous creatures that eat the following: fish, amphibians, rodents, birds, worms, crustaceans, and even insects.
55. There are 3,789 snake species, making them the second largest group of reptiles after lizards.
56. Snakes evolved over 142 million years ago.

Do you have even more interesting facts about snakes? Be sure to share them in the comments, and don’t forget to download our facts about snakes cards!

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