Reading facts about snakes can be a fun and educational activity for students. It can enhance their general knowledge about the world and its fascinating creatures. Snakes come in various sizes, shapes, and colours. Facts about forests suggest that snakes play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of the food chain. Did you know that snakes do not have eyelids? So, how do they sleep? Read this blog till the end to find answers to similar questions along with some interesting facts about snakes.
Table of Contents
Interesting Facts About Snakes
1. There are more than 3,400 species of snakes around the world.
2. Snakes have no limbs, voice, or eyelids. They are characterised by a long and slender body.
3. They have only 1 functional lung.
4. Their skin is covered with scales.
5. Although they cannot make any voice, they are capable of hissing.
6. Snakes can smell with their long and forked tongues.
7. Snakes use their pointy fangs to inject venom to paralyse or kill victims before eating them.
8. Some snake species can flatten their ribs into a concave C shape to trap air under their bodies as they fall. By going back and forth in an S-shape, they can fly or glide through the air.
9. Snakes shed their skin every few months by rubbing against the ground or tree branches.
10. Snakes don’t have external ears to hear. They rely on the bones in their lower jaw to pick up vibrations in the ground or water.
Fun Facts About Snakes
1. They are ectotherms animals, meaning that their body temperature is variable and regulated by external sources. This helps them sustain a single meal for many weeks.
2. About 70% of snakes lay eggs whereas the remaining species have live births as their eggs cannot survive in colder climates.
3. Snakes can’t chew and thus, they have to swallow the entire prey in whole.
4. Snakes are not aggressive or territorial. Instead, they are shy creatures that don’t go picking fights.
5. Some sea snakes can partially breathe through their skin. This allows them to stay underwater for a longer duration.
6. Snakes can have up to 1,200 bones in their body.
7. Some snake species like the Brahminy blind snake are only females, meaning they can reproduce on their own.
8. Snake scales contain keratin, the same substance found in human hair and nails.
9. Snakes are an essential part of our ecosystems. Without them, the entire food chain would collapse.
Facts About Snake Habitat
1. You cannot find snakes in Antarctica and the North and South Poles.
2. They are found everywhere in the world except for New Zealand, Iceland, Ireland, and Greenland.
Facts About Snake Eyes
1. Due to the absence of eyelids, snakes cannot blink.
2. They have to sleep with their eyes open.
3. Some snakes like pythons and rattlesnakes have openings in front of their eyes, called pit holes. These holes help sense heat given off by warm-blooded prey animals.
GK Quiz on Snakes with Answers for Kids
Now that you have read facts about snakes, how about putting your knowledge to the test? In this section, you will find a quiz on snakes with answers. Make sure to attempt all the questions till the end to find the answer key.
1. The snakeskin is covered with ____
a) hair |
b) scales |
c) thorns |
2. Identify the substance found in snake scales.
a) protein |
b) calcium |
c) keratin |
3. Which of the following statements is true about snakes?
a) They shed their skin every few months |
b) They shed their teeth every few months |
c) They shed their eyelids every few weeks |
4. Snakes are found around the world in various countries except ____
a) North and south poles |
b) Australi |
c) Brazil |
5. How do snakes hear?
a) They have external ears |
b) they use vibrations in the ground |
c) They use their sense of smell |
6. How do snakes consume their meal?
a) They bite it into small size pieces |
b) They remove the skin before eating the prey |
c) They swallow it whole |
Answer Key
1. b | 4. a |
2. c | 5. b |
3. a | 6. c |
Interesting Reads
FAQs
Some cool facts about snakes include that there are over 3,400 species of snakes around the world, their skin is covered with scales, they have only 1 functional lung, and lastly, they can smell using tongues.
Some interesting facts and information about snakes include that they shed their skin every few months, they don’t have eyelids meaning that they have to sleep with their eyes open, they cannot blink, and lastly, their scales contain keratin, the same substance found in human hair and nails.
5 characteristics of snakes include that they are covered with scales, they have good eyesight, they use vibrations to determine the location of the prey, they do not have a voice, and lastly, they are an essential part of our ecosystems.
Hope you enjoy reading these interesting facts about snakes. If you want to know more about topics like this, then visit our Interesting Facts and General Knowledge page!