essay on python snake

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A Python is any member of the taxonomic family Pythonidae. Members of this family grow to incredible lengths. Some of the largest species include the Burmese, Reticulated, and African rock. Researchers recognize 31 different species of Pythons. Read on to learn about the Python .

Description of the Python

The various species of these snakes differ in size and color. Most species are rather large-bodied, heavy snakes. Their scales come in many colors and patterns, including tan, brown, black, white, grey, and more.

Adults range drastically in length and weight. They measure anywhere from 20 in. long to over 20 ft. long! The largest recorded individual weighed over 400 lbs.

Interesting Facts About the Python

Even though some species grow to immense lengths, humans pose a much greater danger to these snakes than the snakes pose to humans. Learn more about some individual species, and why they deserve our protection, below.

• Pygmy Python – This little species is the smallest in the family. Adults measure about 20 in. long. Many people consider this snake quite docile and friendly, and happily welcome it near their home or farm because it eats rats and mice.
• Reticulated Python – On the other end of the scale, this species is the largest in the family. It reaches lengths of 20 ft. or more! Though they naturally live in southern Asia, humans have introduced this species to Florida. Uneducated pet owners purchase the snakes when they are small, and then release them when they grow too large.
• Burmese Python – Despite their threat as an invasive species in the Florida Everglades, this snake faces extinction in its home range. The IUCN lists this species as Vulnerable . Humans capture this snake for the pet trade, and to use their skin for leather and purses.

Habitat of the Python

The various species of these snakes live in different types of habitats. Each has its own habitat preferences, though many share similar habitats. Some of the different habitats that they occupy include rainforests, swamps, wetlands , forests, woodlands, marshes, scrubland, grassland, and rocky areas.

Many species also live in close proximity to farms or pastures, where bountiful rodent prey attracts them.

Distribution of the Python

Each individual species has its own unique range. Some populations overlap with those of other species. For some species, their range extends across entire countries, while others live in just an isolated region or on a single island.

You can find various species throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, and the surrounding islands. Some also exist as invasive species in Florida.

Diet of the Python

Like all snakes, these creatures are carnivorous. This means that they feed on other animals, and do not eat plants. Their diet varies based on where they live and how large they are. They eat rats, mice, birds, bats, other snakes, frogs , and even larger creatures like deer and antelope .

They kill their prey through constriction. Despite common belief, the prey does not suffocate. Instead, blood flow is cut off from the brain, causing the prey to lose consciousness.

Python and Human Interaction

Human interaction varies drastically based on the species at hand. Some species cross paths with humans frequently, while others live in dense forests that humans rarely enter.

Sadly, humans have reduced the populations of several different species. Habitat destruction and poaching for the pet trade or their meat and skin are the greatest threats to these reptiles.

Domestication

Humans have not domesticated this snake in any way.

Does the Python Make a Good Pet

Some Pythons make great pets. The most popular pet species is the ball Python . However, you should only purchase an exotic pet that is captive-bred.

Python Care

Care varies drastically from one species to the next. Smaller species need smaller enclosures, while larger species need more space. Many species prefer habitats with a constant water source to soak in. Temperature and humidity vary based on their natural habitat. Most thrive on a diet of rats, mice, rabbits , or chicks.

Behavior of the Python

The behaviors of these snakes vary based on the species. Some are diurnal, and active during the day, while others forage at night or during dusk and dawn. Most species live solitary lives, and only interact with other snakes during the breeding season. The breeding season and behavior varies from species to species.

Reproduction of the Python

These snakes are oviparous, which means that they lay eggs. The number of eggs per clutch varies drastically by species. Some lay 7 eggs on average, others average 50 eggs or more per clutch.

After laying their eggs, females use their bodies to incubate them. Once the eggs hatch, the young are fully independent and receive no additional care.

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Burmese Python

Burmese pythons, one of the largest snakes in the world, are best known for the way they catch and eat their food. The snake uses its sharp rearward-pointing teeth to seize prey, and then coils its body around the animal, squeezing a little tighter with each exhale until the animal suffocates. Stretchy ligaments in their jaws allow them to swallow animals up to five times as wide as their head!

Burmese pythons are carnivores, eating mostly small mammals and birds . But exceptionally large pythons may search for larger food items like pigs or goats. Pythons have even been known to have attacked and eaten alligators ! They have poor eyesight, so instead they stalk prey using chemical receptors in their tongues and heat-sensors along their jaws.

Burmese pythons are among the largest snakes on Earth. They are capable of reaching 23 feet (7 meters) or more in length and weighing up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms) with a girth as big as a telephone pole.

When they are young, Burmese pythons will spend equal time on the ground and in the trees. But are they grow larger they tend to stay on the ground because the trees can’t hold them anymore! They are also excellent swimmers and can stay submerged up to 30 minutes. The Burmese python is an invasive species in the Florida Everglades. According to the National Park Service, tens of thousands of these snakes exist there.

Females lay clutches of up to 100 eggs, which they incubate for two to three months. To keep their eggs warm, they continually contract, or shiver, their muscles. When the baby snakes hatch they use their special egg tooth to cut their way out of their egg and the mother leaves. The newly hatched baby python will often remain inside its egg until it finishes shedding its first shedding of skin, then it will hunt for its first meal all by itself.

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African Rock Python: A Snake That Eats Crocodiles for Lunch

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The African rock python is known for its extraordinary ability to consume large prey. Remarkably, it can devour animals as large as hyenas and antelopes whole. Its powerful constriction method and flexible jaws allow it to handle such sizable meals.

There have even been reports of these pythons consuming impalas whole, showcasing their incredible capacity for tackling formidable prey.

While the African snake's diet is undeniably impressive, it is just one aspect of this fascinating species. This snake's native range and mating behaviors are equally intriguing and play a crucial role in its survival and proliferation across various African landscapes.

Let's delve into these aspects to gain a deeper insight into its life in the wild.

Physical Features

Native range, florida range, food habits, population threats.

The African rock python ( Python sebae ) belongs to the genus Python within the family Pythonidae .

This species is commonly known by several names, including African python, Central African python and rock python. It is typically divided into two recognized subspecies: the Northern African rock python ( Python sebae sebae ) and the Southern African rock python ( Python sebae natalensis ).

The subspecies differ in size, appearance and distribution.

The Northern African rock python is generally larger and can be found in Central and Western Africa. This subspecies tends to inhabit various environments, including savannas, grasslands and near bodies of water. Their larger size means they can take down bigger prey.

The Southern African rock python, which resides in regions like South Africa, Zimbabwe and parts of Mozambique (southern parts of the continent), is slightly smaller than its northern counterpart. This subspecies often has a more distinct color pattern and may exhibit variations in scale texture.

Despite these differences, both subspecies share traits typical of African rock pythons, such as their powerful constricting ability, nonvenomous nature and similar ecological roles as top predators in their respective habitats.

How Big Is an African Rock Python?

Adults typically range from 10 to 16 feet (3 to 6 meters) in length, with some larger African rock pythons growing up to around 24 feet (7.5 meters).

Juvenile rock pythons are significantly smaller at birth, measuring around 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 centimeters) in length. During their early years, these young snakes experience a rapid growth spurt, which is vital for their survival in the wild as it quickly reduces their vulnerability to predators.

These pythons are notable for their robust and muscular build. Their skin is covered with smooth, shiny scales that provide both protection and camouflage.

The coloration of these pythons is generally a mix of brown, olive, chestnut and yellow, but this can vary somewhat between individuals and subspecies. This coloring helps them blend into their natural environment, an adaptation for hunting and protection.

One of the snake's most distinctive features is its pattern. They typically have a series of irregular, dark brown to black splotches and stripes running down their back, with smaller, lighter markings on their sides. This patterning is more pronounced and distinct in the Southern African rock python compared to the Northern variety.

Their heads form a distinct triangle shape, slightly broader than their necks, with a noticeable snout. The snakes have small, symmetrical scales on the top of the head and larger, heat-sensitive pits near their lips, which aid in detecting warm-blooded prey, even in darkness.

Their ability to eat large prey items is facilitated by their highly flexible jaws, which can expand to swallow prey much larger than the python's head.

The python's eyes have vertical pupils, a common trait among snakes that are active day and night. This feature helps them adapt to varying light conditions, enhancing their hunting capabilities in their natural habitat.

The Central African rock python is native to sub-Saharan Africa. Its range stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia and Somalia in the east, extending south to Namibia and South Africa.

This species inhabits diverse habitats, including forests, savannas, grasslands, semi-deserts and rocky areas, often near permanent water sources. It adapts well to disturbed habitats and is commonly found around human habitation, especially in cane fields.

While it is highly adaptable to various environments, the species typically avoids extremely arid deserts because it requires a certain humidity level and access to water sources.

Arid deserts, by definition, don't provide the necessary hydration needed for survival. The extreme temperatures of deserts, particularly the high daytime heat, are not conducive to the African rock python's physiology.

Being ectothermic (relying on external sources of temperature to regulate their body heat), snakes need an environment where they can effectively thermoregulate. The harsh, dry and hot conditions of arid deserts present challenges, making such environments less suitable for them.

The availability of prey, crucial for their sustenance, is typically lower in arid deserts than in the more lush and diverse habitats like grasslands and wetlands where these pythons thrive.

These giant snakes have established a presence in Florida , albeit in a much more localized and limited area than other snake species. Their presence in Florida has been noted since the early 2000s, with sightings in Sarasota and Miami-Dade counties.

However, their established range in the Sunshine State appears to be confined to a small area in Miami, specifically on the southeastern side of US 41 (Tamiami Trail) and SR 997 (Krome Avenue) in Miami-Dade County. This localized establishment suggests that their impact on the Florida ecosystem might be more contained than the widespread presence of Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades.

Irresponsible Pet Owners

African rock pythons likely wound up in the state for reasons similar to the Burmese python: They've escaped captivity or were intentionally released.

Pet owners sometimes release snakes into the Everglades when they become too large or complex to manage. Some owners may not be prepared for the long-term commitment and specific care requirements these giant snakes demand.

Unfortunately, this irresponsible practice leads to ecological imbalances, as these non-native snakes can thrive in the Everglades' environment and become invasive species, disrupting local ecosystems by preying on native wildlife.

Despite being disruptive to the ecosystem, the fact that they can survive in that area indicates that the environment provides suitable conditions for them.

We touched on the snake's hefty appetite earlier, but it doesn't only nosh on giant prey. The large constrictor snake has a varied and opportunistic diet, consisting primarily of mammals and birds. When it is younger and smaller, the African rock python feeds on small animals like rodents and birds.

As the python grows, its diet expands to include larger prey such as antelopes, warthogs , fruit bats, monkeys, monitor lizards and, as we mentioned earlier, crocodiles . Occasionally, they may also consume other reptiles, including smaller snakes. The African rock python's feeding habits are influenced by its size and the availability of prey in its environment.

Like many snake species, they can survive for extended periods without food due to their slow metabolism and ability to digest and use the nutrients from their prey efficiently. The length of time the creature can go without food varies based on age, size, health and environmental conditions.

Adult African rock pythons can typically go without eating for several weeks to a few months. In some cases, particularly large or well-fed individuals may survive even more extended periods without food, potentially up to a year.

Juvenile pythons, which are growing and have higher metabolic demands, may not be able to fast for as long as adults. While they can survive for long periods without eating, regular feeding is essential for the snake's health and well-being, especially for younger, growing pythons.

African rock pythons reproduce through a process that is typical of most pythons. They are oviparous , meaning they lay eggs, and their reproduction cycle begins with courtship and mating. These snakes typically mate between November and March.

During the mating season, male African rock pythons compete for females through a behavior known as " combat ." This involves the males intertwining their bodies and trying to pin each other down. It's more of a show of strength than a fight, as it rarely results in injury.

The dominant male, who proves himself stronger in this ritualistic combat, earns the right to mate with the female. This competitive behavior ensures that the strongest genes are passed on to the next generation.

During mating, male and female African rock pythons engage in a ritual where the male wraps around the female and aligns his body with hers. The male then uses his cloaca , an opening for reproduction and waste excretion, to connect with the female's cloaca to transfer sperm.

This process, known as cloacal apposition, allows for fertilization of the female's eggs. Mating in snakes is generally a quiet and gentle process focused on successful reproduction.

Females usually lay a clutch of 20 to 50 eggs , which they actively guard and incubate. This level of maternal care, which includes coiling around the eggs, is notable among pythons. The incubation period lasts 60 to 90 days, after which the hatchlings emerge. Females may continue to guard their young for weeks after hatching .

African rock pythons face several threats that impact their population. Habitat loss is a major concern, as expanding human settlements, agricultural development, and deforestation reduce their natural habitats. This not only limits their living space but also affects prey availability.

Additionally, they are often hunted or killed by humans. In some areas, they are hunted for their skin, which is used in the fashion industry. In others, they are killed due to fear, as they are often perceived as a threat to livestock and sometimes, though rarely, to humans.

Illegal pet trade also poses a significant threat to their population. Younger pythons are particularly vulnerable to being captured and sold in the exotic pet market. This trade not only removes them from their natural habitat but also subjects them to stress and risk of death in transit and captivity.

Conservation efforts are in place in some areas to protect these snakes, but enforcement can be challenging. Education and awareness programs are also essential to change public perceptions and reduce direct human threats to these pythons.

This article was written in conjunction with AI technology, then fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article:

Snake Game In Python - Python Beginner Tutorial

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What does python taste like? Because it could be slithering onto our dinner plates.

A study conducted on two snake farms has found that breeding pythons for meat is more energy and resource-efficient than current livestock production, offering a viable protein alternative.

Python meat is a low-effort and sustainable protein alternative that could soon slither onto our dinner plates, scientists suggest.

The researchers argue there are a plethora of benefits to farming pythons , including the snakes' ability to fast for extended periods of time, their low space and water requirements and minimal waste production. 

Due to their large body size and fast growth rates — and without legs or wings to worry about — pythons are a highly efficient source of meat. The scientists published their findings Thursday (March 14) in the journal Scientific Reports . 

"These animals are extremely good converters of food and particularly protein," study co-author Patrick Aust , a zoologist and research associate at the University of Oxford in the U.K., told ABC News . "Literally, they are specialists [at] making the most of very little."

Python farming is well-established in Asia but is yet to take off in other regions, according to the study. With current livestock production systems struggling to meet sustainability standards and growing demand , however, it may be time to consider alternatives.

Related: Enormous Burmese python killed in Florida Everglades was about to lay 60 eggs

"Over the last two decades, snake farming has expanded," the authors wrote in the study. "Reptile meat is not unlike chicken: high in protein, low in saturated fats, and with widespread aesthetic and culinary appeal."

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The researchers monitored the growth rates of newborn Burmese ( Python bivittatus ) and reticulated  ( Malayopython reticulatus ) pythons at two farms — one in Thailand's Uttaradit province and the other in Ho Chi Minh City, in Vietnam. Despite receiving food only once per week, both species grew rapidly and put on up to 1.6 ounces (46 grams) per day over a period of 12 months — by which time they can be slaughtered for meat, skins and other products. Female pythons grew larger than males, likely due to natural sex differences. 

The researchers fed the pythons a variety of diets, including thawed frozen chicken, wild-caught rodents, fishmeal, chicken pellets and waste products from pork production.

Roughly a quarter of the food ingested by the snakes was converted to meat, regardless of which diet they were fed, and 82% of the snakes' body mass was edible meat by the end of the experiment. For comparison, the meat harvested from cattle generally amounts to about 63% of a cow's weight.

"In terms of food and protein conversion ratios, pythons outperform all mainstream agricultural species studied to date," the researchers wrote in the study. "Production efficiencies for pythons were higher than those reported for poultry, pork, beef, salmon, and crickets."

Pythons also maintained their body mass during periods of fasting that lasted as long as 127 consecutive days thanks to their flexible metabolism. Adult Burmese and reticulated pythons can weigh more than 220 pounds (100 kilograms) and females can produce up to 100 eggs per year, meaning they are "well suited for commercial production," according to the study. 

— 200-pound 'monster' Burmese python finally captured in Florida after 5 men sit on it

— Giant ball of Burmese pythons having sex discovered in Florida Everglades in record-breaking catch

— Long-held myth says Hurricane Andrew sparked Florida's Burmese python problem. Is it true?  

The researchers highlighted the potential role of python farming in controlling rodent pests and upcycling waste products from other meat industries and agri-food supply chains, if the snakes are fed a diet rich in rodents and waste protein.

The only remaining hurdle to putting python meat on dinner plates is a limited understanding of how to keep thousands of these snakes in captivity, the authors wrote — that, and "the general fear humans have toward snakes."

Sascha is a U.K.-based trainee staff writer at Live Science. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Southampton in England and a master’s degree in science communication from Imperial College London. Her work has appeared in The Guardian and the health website Zoe. Besides writing, she enjoys playing tennis, bread-making and browsing second-hand shops for hidden gems.

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• Beefeater Probably tastes a lot like Bald Eagle. Reply
• Zeph According to a recent Swamp People: Serpent Invasion episode, where a Florida python hunter tried to enthuse a US professional cook to offer meals based on python meat on her menu, at least adult specimens have incredibly tough and chewy meat that did not lend itself well to the restaurant industry - especially not for fast food consumption... But maybe the chefs over in Asia have learned the secrets behind tenderizing python filets? Reply
• Rocco Capone I had a Python stew in Borneo. It was when visiting a village with a missionary pilot. The meat wasn't tough and tasted fine. There was a lot of garlic used in the stew, but that is about all I can tell you. They showed me the python skin and head that was preserved in the freezer, and I asked where they caught it. I was told that it came into their house. We also had barbequed bush hog, but I thought the python was more tender. Reply
• The Old Ranger I've often said the solution to the python problem in Florida was to set up BBQ python food trucks all over the state of Florida and and hand out coupons to the people who are going hungry. I don't know about their meat, but fried rattlesnake is good, ask any west Texan. Reply

Rocco Capone said: I had a Python stew in Borneo. It was when visiting a village with a missionary pilot. The meat wasn't tough and tasted fine. There was a lot of garlic used in the stew, but that is about all I can tell you. They showed me the python skin and head that was preserved in the freezer, and I asked where they caught it. I was told that it came into their house. We also had barbequed bush hog, but I thought the python was more tender.

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Essay on Snake

Students are often asked to write an essay on Snake in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Snake

Introduction.

Snakes are fascinating creatures that belong to the reptile family. They are found all over the world, except in Antarctica. Some people fear them, while others are intrigued by them.

Body Structure

Snakes have long, slender bodies without legs. They move by slithering on their bellies. Their skin is covered in scales which can be smooth or rough.

Diet and Hunting

Snakes are carnivorous, meaning they eat other animals. They hunt by sensing heat and vibrations. Some snakes use venom to paralyze their prey.

Despite their scary reputation, snakes play a vital role in our ecosystem by controlling pests. It’s important to respect and protect them.

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• 10 Lines on Snake

250 Words Essay on Snake

The snake, a creature that has sparked intrigue and fear in humans for centuries, is a complex and diverse member of the reptile family. They are found across the globe, barring a few islands and the icy realms of the poles.

Morphology and Adaptation

Snakes are elongated, legless carnivorous reptiles, characterized by their unique flexible jaw mechanism that allows them to swallow prey much larger than their head. They have a variety of adaptations for their predatory lifestyle, including highly sensitive infrared receptors for detecting warm-blooded prey, and venomous fangs in some species.

Diversity and Habitat

With over 3,000 species, snakes exhibit a stunning array of diversity. They inhabit an assortment of habitats, from the arid desert of the Sahara to the lush rainforests of the Amazon. Their sizes range from the tiny thread snake to the massive reticulated python.

Symbolism and Cultural Significance

Snakes hold significant symbolic value in various cultures. They are often associated with fertility, rebirth, transformation, and even immortality due to their ability to shed skin. However, in some societies, they symbolize deceit or danger.

Conservation

Despite their ecological importance, many snake species face threats from habitat loss, climate change, and human persecution. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensure their survival and the maintenance of balanced ecosystems.

In conclusion, snakes are fascinating creatures of great ecological and cultural significance. Their incredible diversity and adaptations make them an essential part of our planet’s biodiversity. Through understanding and conservation, we can ensure their continued existence and appreciate their role in the world’s ecosystems.

500 Words Essay on Snake

Introduction to snakes.

Snakes, belonging to the suborder Serpentes, are one of the most unique and diverse creatures on Earth. With over 3,000 known species, they inhabit a variety of ecosystems around the globe. Snakes are revered and feared, often misunderstood due to their elusive nature and potential danger to humans. However, they play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.

Physical Attributes and Adaptations

Snakes are elongated, legless, and carnivorous reptiles. Their body is covered with overlapping scales which serve various functions, such as protection from dehydration and injury. Snakes lack external ears and eyelids but have highly developed senses of smell and vibration detection. They have flexible jaws that can dislocate, allowing them to swallow prey much larger than their head.

Diet and Hunting Strategies

Snakes are obligate carnivores, feeding on a variety of prey including rodents, birds, eggs, and other reptiles. Hunting strategies vary widely among species. Some snakes, like the python, use constriction to suffocate their prey, while others, like cobras and vipers, use venom to immobilize and digest their food.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Snakes exhibit a range of reproductive strategies. While most species are oviparous, laying eggs in a safe location, others are ovoviviparous or viviparous, giving birth to live young. The lifespan of snakes varies greatly, from a few years in small species to several decades in larger ones.

Role in Ecosystems

Snakes play a critical role in ecosystems as both predators and prey. They control pest populations, such as rodents, preventing the spread of diseases and crop damage. As prey, they provide food for a variety of larger predators. Their presence in an ecosystem is often an indicator of its health.

Snakes and Humans

Human attitudes towards snakes are complex, ranging from reverence to fear. In many cultures, snakes are symbols of fertility, wisdom, or power. However, due to their potential danger, they are often feared and persecuted. Snakebites remain a significant health concern in many parts of the world.

Many snake species are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and human persecution. Conservation efforts are crucial to preserving these remarkable creatures and the roles they play in their ecosystems. Public education about the ecological importance of snakes and the need for their conservation is a key part of these efforts.

Understanding snakes is not only fascinating but also essential for appreciating the intricate web of life on Earth. Their unique adaptations, diverse lifestyles, and ecological roles highlight the complexity of nature. As we continue to study these remarkable creatures, we deepen our understanding of biodiversity and the importance of conservation.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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• Snake Essay

Essay on Snake

Snakes are the most specialized group of reptiles. Many species of snake are found all over the world. Some of which are poisonous and some are not poisonous. Among poisonous snakes, King Cobra is considered the most poisonous and is very dangerous. If the king cobra bites someone, it becomes difficult to survive. Snakes are found in large numbers in India, China, and Japan. Snakes are worshiped in India. On the contrary, they are considered delicious food in China and Japan.

Boas and python are two snakes that are non-poisonous but they are most powerful and large. Their length is more than about 30 feet. The largest species of these snakes are found in the African jungle. Python snakes can easily eat big calves and deer. After eating their food, they stay in a still position for a few days until that food is properly digested.

Specifications

Snakes are both small and large. Snakes do not have eyelids. Snakes do not bite their food completely. Ears of snakes are not external but internal. The movement of snakes is fast. Some snakes can also fly in the air. Their skin is dry and smooth. There are 3000 species of snakes all over the world. 20% of these species are the most poisonous. Anaconda is a snake found in South America. These snakes are the most toxic. No person can survive their bite.

During the summer, all snakes get out of their burrows because heat is felt on the snake's body. They wander around in search of water. There are many snakes that are worth seeing and these snakes are found in zoos. Some are even domestic. All those who are the most dangerous cannot be domesticated. When a poisonous snake bites a person, the poison starts spreading in the body very fast. In our country, many people die due to snake bites. Most of the snakes are found in the village which gets out of their bills during summertime. Snakes hibernate during winters and hide themselves to be safe from predators. They choose warm places for Hibernation sites so that they don't die because of freezing or lowering in temperature. Many snakes are also associated with water bodies like oceans, rivers, lakes, etc. These snakes survive on tadpoles, small fishes, and frogs. 

Snakes do not smell through their nostrils but their tongues. Snakes detect the surrounding environment with their tongues. Another important fact related to snakes is that only 70% of species of snakes lay eggs, the remaining 30% of species produce children. 

Reproduction in Snakes 

To mate with the female snake, some snakes gather in an area and compete with each other. The snake which proves to be dominant and most powerful mates with the female while the others are not. This process can be very deadly for snakes. This is the reason for the high mortality rate in young aged snakes. After the process of mating, the male snakes leave from there and The female snake, after one to three month, lay eggs in the shell. Their eggs hatch to give the child snakes and grow up to reproduce further. 

Some of the Species of Snakes

King Cobra is one of the largest and strongest snakes in the world. The King Cobra is a poisonous snake. They are found in many countries including India. King cobra venom can put anyone to death. The length of a large king cobra is up to 6 meters. The cobra is so poisonous that if an elephant is bitten, it can also be killed. A cobra is a predator that preys on snakes other than animals, whether poisonous or not. 

King Cobra, on an average, has a lifespan of 20 years. The king cobra is the only species of snake that makes a nest for its survival and lays eggs in them and protects those eggs themselves. Cobra is a species of snake that is able to stand up to one-third of its total length. It is illegal to kill a king cobra in India as it can lead to a sentence of 6 years. King cobra snakes are able to spit their venom as far as half their length. King cobra snakes can only feel the waves and vibrations that occur on earth, King cobra snakes are unable to feel the sound waves in the air. 

They specialize in climbing trees. King Cobra's eyes are so sharp that he can easily see his prey from 91 meters away. The heaviest King Cobra found so far weighing 12.7 kg was kept in New York's Zoological Park. Despite being so poisonous, the mongoose does not affect the bite of King Cobra. This is the reason why the mongoose kills the cobra easily. Once bitten, the king cobra spews so much poison that it can kill about 20 people or a large elephant. If a person bites a king cobra and it is not treated properly, then that person can be killed within 30 minutes.

Krait Snake

It is also called Naja Bungarus. These snakes also eat other snakes. Krait is recognized because of its white, black, and yellow color. This snake is one of the poisonous snakes. These snakes are found in India as well as all over Asia. All these are found mostly in waterlogged areas, gardens, houses, and forests. They are more active at night than day. These snakes lay about 15 to 20 eggs at a time. The length of these snakes is from 6 feet to 8 feet. The poison of Krait is neurotoxic. These snakes are triangle-shaped.

Russell’ Vipers

Russell's Vipers is a dangerous snake of the Vipers species. This snake is responsible for the most deaths due to snakebite in India. Most farmers and laborers fall victim to it while doing the groundwork. These are most poisonous, the snake does not run in fear like other snakes. This snake is so agile that it can bite three to four times in 1 second. Their teeth are the longest among all snakes. It looks neat and thick and looks like a python because of its rounded design on the body. The poison of these crazes is hemotoxic, which does not allow the blood of the victim to freeze. If the blood does not freeze, then the victim dies due to excessive bleeding.

Rattlesnake

This snake received its name from the rattle at the end of its tail. This rattle-like structure makes a rattling noise when it vibrates. The rattlesnake uses the rattle to keep the predators away and is a warning sign. A large number of rattlesnakes are killed by humans for their rattle which is exported to many countries. Their population is also decreased due to the destruction of habitats and increase in camping and hunting. These snakes are highly aggressive and are the cause of most of the snakebite cases in North America. Like other snakes, they do not bite unless they are disturbed, threatened, or provoked. They have 2 organs to sense radiation. These heat-sensing pits help them to detect thermal radiation from a distance. It helps rattlesnakes to catch small animals and hide from predators. 

In conclusion, Snakes are very dangerous animals. If the snake bites any person, that person can’t be alive. In India, snakes are worshiped at special events. 

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FAQs on Snake Essay

1. Which is the Largest Snake in the World?

The green anaconda is the largest snake in the world. It weighs around 550 pounds. Also, the reticulated python is one of the biggest snakes in the world which is 6.25 meters in length. These snakes are found in southeast Asia's rainforests, woodland, and grasslands. These snakes can also climb trees and wrap their body to kill a human. It was found that anacondas and pythons can be huge enough to eat a human being alive. These snakes are not venomous like the great king Kobra. The king Kobra is the largest most venomous snake but not big in sizes like the anacondas and pythons.

2. When are the Snakes Most Active?

Mostly snakes are active in the early mornings and summer times. Snakes are rarely seen in the evening. Also, snakes stay away from cold climates. Snakes also don't hibernate when there is a warmer climate. Snakes are commonly seen hiding during the fall season. They do so to catch small animals like mice, frogs, etc. They are most active from April to October and this season in terms of snake activity is called the snake season. From the dust time, snakes start praying and actively pray during nighttime. Snakes spend the day hiding in shells from the other predators. 

3. Explain in detail about the Sharp-tailed Snake.

The sharp-tailed snake is a creature belonging to dry habitats such as oak and woodland, pine forest and chaparral. These snakes are secretive and hide under logs or grass. These snakes can also be found in irrigated gardens with black plastic sheeting to avoid the growth of wild bushes. These snakes have crossbars of black and peach color on the underside of the body. They are medium in height and are mostly brown or woody in appearance. This color makes them hide in their natural habitat and protect themselves from predators. Specifically, they have a spine like a sharp-pointed tail which gave them the name 'Sharp-tailed Snake'. These snakes can exist in a wide range of habitats. They are commonly found in California to southern Vancouver Island.

4. Describe the rubber boa snake. 

These snakes belong to the family of one of the largest snakes in the world. However, they are measured just 14 to 30 inches long. They are olive green, reddish-brown, tan or chocolate brown in color. These snakes look 'rubbery' and have shiny skin. They don't have any patches on their body. They are found in a wide variety of habitats. They are found in oak and pine woodlands, brushy chaparral and prefer to live in moist sandy areas. These snakes eat small rodents and mice and shrews. They have a slow crawling speed on land, but they are very good swimmers and can be very fast underwater. They are also famous for being good climbing snakes and can climb in the areas where water is available. 

5. Write a short note on 'snake hunting'?

Vedantu provides a wide range of knowledge about wildlife and the conservation of creatures. One of the animals that are killed majorly for their skins or other body parts is a snake. The hunting of snakes should be prohibited. This is because snakes contribute to the environment and life cycle and are a very important part of this life cycle. Below are a few points about snakes 

Snakes do not hurt or bite people intentionally - Snakes do not bite or attack unless we interface with their habitat or disturb them. 

In the entire world, venomous snakes are only 20% or even less than that - The snakes are connected with cases of snake bites which lead to the death of humans. But, only a few species of snake are venomous, others on biting can cause infections or wounds which can be treated and cured. This shouldn't be seen as a reason to kill the snakes. 

The killing of snakes can cause an imbalance in the environment. One of the main reasons for the increase in rodents is the killing of snakes in that area. Snakes eat rodents, but if they are hunted or killed, it increases the population of rodents in the region. Their rodents can spread infections and cause harm to human life as well. 

Python Meat Could Be a Sustainable, Nutritious Food Source, Scientists Say

The snakes may be some of the most resource-efficient animals to farm on the planet, a new study suggests

Daily Correspondent

Move over, lab-grown meat : Python could be the food of the future. These scaly reptiles may be one of the most sustainable animals to farm on the planet, according to new research published last week in the journal Scientific Reports .

And as climate change threatens global food security , python farming could be one possible way to produce a source of protein with a relatively small environmental footprint, the researchers report.

“We really are running out of resources, whilst at the same time, the demand for high quality nutrients is going up,” says study co-author Patrick Aust , a conservation scientist at the nonprofit People for Wildlife, to ABC News ’ Julia Jacobo.

Diners already eat snake meat in some regions of the world, including parts of Africa, Latin America and Asia. In Hong Kong, for instance, snake soup is a popular dish, particularly during the winter. To help meet this demand, commercial python farms have been popping up in recent years.

“Reptile meat is not unlike chicken: high in protein, low in saturated fats and with widespread aesthetic and culinary appeal,” write the scientists in the paper.

Researchers were curious to know how farm-raised python stacked up against other types of livestock: How much food did pythons need to eat to produce a pound of meat for humans? This metric is known as the food conversion ratio.

After studying more than 4,600 Burmese and reticulated pythons on commercial farms in Vietnam and Thailand, they found the snakes had a more efficient food conversion ratio than salmon, pigs, cows, chicken and crickets. The snakes went long periods without eating but did not lose much of their body mass as a result; they also required very little water. On top of all that, they ate food that would not have been used otherwise, known as waste meat, such as wild-caught rodents and stillborn pigs.

“A python can live off the dew that forms on its scales. In the morning, it just drinks off its scales and that’s enough,” says co-author Daniel Natusch , director of the consulting firm EPIC Biodiversity and a herpetologist at Macquarie University in Australia, to the Washington Post ’s Rachel Pannett. “Theoretically, you could just stop feeding it for a year.”

The fact that pythons can fast for long periods without any apparent consequences could help farmers hedge against future supply chain disruptions, which are becoming increasingly common amid climate change . During the Covid-19 pandemic, for instance, some swine farmers had to euthanize their pigs , because it had become too expensive to feed them or because meatpacking facilities were shut down.

“At the time we thought, ‘If only they were farming pythons,’” Natusch tells New Scientist ’s Michael Le Page.

When it comes time to butcher them, pythons are easy to fillet and produce very little waste, since they don’t have limbs. Snake meat—which can be used in soups, curries, sauteed on skewers, dried into jerky and barbecued—is similar in flavor and texture to chicken.

Pythons are also easy to farm. They get along with each other and are mostly sedentary when they don’t need to hunt for their own food. They also seem to tolerate small, confined spaces, and they seldom get sick with the viruses that affect livestock and poultry.

“They display few of the complex animal welfare issues commonly seen in caged birds and mammals ,” the researchers write in the paper.

But many questions about farm-raised pythons remain unanswered. Perhaps the biggest one is whether Westerners would ever actually eat snake meat. It may be a “long time” before python burgers end up on menus in places like Australia, North America and Europe, says study co-author Rick Shine , a natural scientist at Macquarie University, in a statement .

Scientists also say more research needs to be conducted on the nutritional content of snake meat, as well as the broader environmental implications—and potential ripple effects—of commercial python farms.

For example, feeding them pest rodents may be sustainable, but “if a whole industry develops around this as a feed source, it will create perverse incentives to maintain ‘rat problems’—and the implications for local communities could of course be vast,” says Kajsa Resare Sahlin , a sustainable food researcher at the Stockholm Resilience Center who was not involved in the study, to New Scientist .

The new paper is a good first step toward exploring python meat as a sustainable food, but “you need to complement that with a whole bunch of additional studies to look at these other aspects before you can really say, ‘Yeah, that’s an option,’” says Monika Zurek , a food systems scientist at the University of Oxford in England who was not involved with the paper, to Scientific American ’s Meghan Bartels.

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Sarah Kuta is a writer and editor based in Longmont, Colorado. She covers history, science, travel, food and beverage, sustainability, economics and other topics.

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Analysis and Environment

Should everyone start eating snakes to save the planet.

Pythons convert food into meat more efficiently than other livestock, and they can be fed on waste meat, but this doesn't mean snake meat is inherently more sustainable

By Michael Le Page

14 March 2024

Pythons are farmed for meat in South-East Asia

Dan Natusch

What kind of meat is the most sustainable? According to a study of farms in Thailand and Vietnam that raise snakes for meat, it might be pythons.

When it comes to the efficiency of converting food into meat, snakes come out top, says Daniel Natusch at consulting firm EPIC Biodiversity. “No other livestock species studied to date possesses the same credentials or rates of production as pythons.”

Lab-grown meat could be 25 times worse for the climate than beef

Snakes have long been farmed on a small scale to produce specialist products, such as venom . Only recently have they begun to be raised primarily for meat.

Natusch’s team measured the growth of nearly 5000 reticulated and Burmese pythons ( Malayopython reticulatus and Python bivittatus ) over a year, along with what they were fed, plus the weight of their dressed carcasses – that is minus the skin, internal organs, head and tail. This was then compared with existing data on other animals.

According to the study, the dry mass of the food the pythons were fed was 1.2 times that of the dressed carcass, compared with 1.5 for salmon, 2.1 for crickets, 2.8 for poultry, 6 for pigs and 10 for beef.

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The dry mass of the protein fed to the snakes was 2.4 times that in a snake carcass, compared with 3 for salmon, 10 for crickets, 21 for poultry, 38 for pigs and 83 for beef.

However, calculating how much food is converted into meat is notoriously tricky, says  Kajsa Resare Sahlin at the Stockholm Resilience Centre in Sweden. It is also essential to take account of what protein animals are eating and where it comes from, she says.

A key thing missing from the study’s comparison is the fact that as carnivores, snakes are eating animals that  ate plants , whereas other farm animals eat mostly plants. If the total mass of plant material required per kilogram of carcass was compared, snakes might not look nearly so efficient.

Asked about this, Natusch says that what makes snake meat sustainable isn’t the efficiency of food conversion, but the fact that they are fed on waste meat, such as trapped rodents and stillborn pigs. This is made into sausages that the snakes eat.

Salmon farms are increasingly being hit by mass die-offs

Mass mortality events at salmon farms have been getting more frequent since 2011, sometimes killing millions of fish at once, with causes including heatwaves and poor living conditions

“Livestock fed on plant protein sourced from a crop monoculture where a natural habitat once stood… is far less sustainable than capturing rodent pests or using waste protein to feed pythons,” says Natusch.

In fact, for this reason, he thinks snake meat is more sustainable than many plant-based foods. “For the vegans out there, in my experience, there would likely be more animals suffering from sowing crops into the soil each year than are killed to feed a python.”

If the snakes are being fed waste that wasn’t being used for other purposes, this would be an efficient use of resources, Resare Sahlin says. But wild rodents could refer to a number of species.

“If these are rats, then in the short term it could be beneficial to use them, but if a whole industry develops around this as a feed source, it will create perverse incentives to maintain ‘rat problems’ – and the implications for local communities could of course be vast,” she says.

So even though snake meat as it is currently produced might be more sustainable than many other types of meat, this study doesn’t show that it is inherently more sustainable.

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But Natusch makes two other arguments in favour of snake farming. The first is food security. Many of the snakes chose to go for periods of up to 127 days without eating, yet lost just a few percentage points of body mass at most.

This means that farmers can stop feeding them for weeks or months if there are global shocks that interrupt supply chains, says Natusch.

The covid-19 pandemic was an example, he says. “Farmers could not sell their pigs, and it was too expensive to keep feeding them, so tragically they were just euthanised and composted. At the time we thought, ‘if only they were farming pythons’.”

Secondly, Natusch thinks farming snakes is more ethical than farming birds or mammals. Pythons don’t have the same cognitive capacity and choose to remain inactive in small confined spaces when they don’t need to find food, he says.

As for what python meat is like, it tastes like, well, chicken, says Natusch. “I’ve had it in curries, BBQ, as satay skewers and as biltong. If prepared well, it’s great.”

Journal reference

Scientific Reports: DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54874-4

• food and drink /
• sustainability

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Academic Test Guide

Essay on Snakes in English For Students & Children

We are sharing an Essay on Snakes in English for students. In this article, we have tried our best to provide a Short essay on Snake for Class 6,7,8,9,10,11,12 in 100, 200, 300 words.

Snakes are dangerous animals. Most people are scared of snakes. The very sight of a snake is enough to make people run away in fear.

A snake is ugly to look at. It has no legs. Its body is long and covered with scales. It has a small head and small eyes. It has a forked tongue.

A snake moves about on its belly. There are many different kinds of snakes. Some like water snakes or grass snakes are not poisonous. There are other snakes like the Cobra, the Viper, and the Krait whose bite proves almost always fatal. Others like the Boa Constrictor and the python are very long and thick. A python can be even sixty feet long. The rattlesnake of America makes a rattling sound as it creeps.

Snakes eat birds, frogs, and rats. Bigger snakes like the python and the boa constrictor swallow cattle or human beings whole. The rattlesnake hides up in a tree, or among rocks. It is extremely poisonous. When a poisonous snake bites a man it injects poison into him. It has two sharp hollow teeth known as fangs. As soon as these fangs pierce the skin of a man poison flows through them into his body. That is why people die of snakebite.

In places like the Haffkine Institute in Mumball cobras are kept so that poison can be extracted from them. This poison is used to prepare an antidote to snake bites. If a man is bitten by a snake is given an injection of this antidote immediately after the bite, he can get cured. We see from this that scientists have found a cure for a poisonous snake bite. Snakes are mostly found in tropical places. People in cold countries do not live in fear of snakes.

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Farmed python snake meat a sustainable and efficient source of protein, study finds

Python snake meat could be a super protein on dinner plates in years to come, research suggests.

A study published in the Nature journal  has found the meat to be highly efficient, environmentally friendly source of nutrition that can be raised on waste proteins.

South Australian butcher Matt Fox, who sells exotic and game meats in Mount Gambier, says he has had a "handful of customers" ask for snake meat.

He said he was not selling python at the moment, but would if a market emerged.

"If there is demand for it, for sure," Mr Fox said.

Highly efficient livestock

Pythons are farmed for their meat in parts of Asia.

The study observed Burmese python snakes that were fed minced meat sausages consisting of stillborn piglets and chicken heads.

Hatchlings on the diet grew to a length of three metres and weighed 15 kilograms within a year.

"They are more efficient than any other livestock animal studied to date," the study's lead author Daniel Natusch said.

"They're gluttonous by nature — like a labrador, they just keep on eating."

Cold-blooded advantage

Dr Natusch, from Macquarie University's School of Natural Sciences, said the reptiles were an efficient source of protein because of the way they processed food.

"Warm-blooded animals waste about 80 to 90 per cent of the energy they get from their food in heat production," he said.

"Cold-blooded animals such as pythons don't have that constraint — they're able to allocate far more of the energy they get from their food into things like growth."

Another positive trait is the ability of snakes to survive without food for long periods.

"Several animals in our study were only eight months old and yet they had gone four months of their lives – 50 per cent – without eating anything and were continuing to grow," Dr Natusch said.

"That has real-world implications for a future where we expect increasing drought, heatwaves, climatic and economic volatility and supply chain breakdowns."

What is the taste like?

The taste of snake meat was not part of the study, but Dr Natusch said to him it tasted similar to chicken.

"To be perfectly fair, it is quite bland … it depends on what you season it with," he said.

"It's a very lean meat … so very, very low in fat.

"I think it is a bit of a leap for people to go straight to snake, but you get a celebrity chef on it and do it well, you're going to convert a lot of people because it tastes absolutely fine and it's very versatile."

Mr Fox has been a long-term advocate for variety in the meat people consume and hopes people will be open to trying the different type of protein.

"Meat is just meat at the end of the day," he said.

"Once people do try things, most of the time they're pleasantly surprised."

March 14, 2024

Snake Steak Could Be a Climate-Friendly Source of Protein

Pythons turn their food into meat pretty efficiently, a study finds, making them an intriguing alternative to climate-unfriendly cows

By Meghan Bartels

Reticulated python ( Malayopython reticulatus).

Paul Starosta/Getty Images

Put aside your chicken cutlets and meatloaf and say hello to python curries and satay skewers. Some snake scientists think eating these reptiles—already customary or at least acceptable in parts of the world—might help lessen the damage our food choices have on the environment.

With some eight billion people on the planet today, all of whom require protein to stay healthy, finding new sources of these nutrients is a crucial issue. “The general conundrum we somehow need to solve is: Where do we get the appropriate amounts of protein for a still-growing global population without the big environmental footprint ?” says Monika Zurek, a food systems scientist at the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the new research. Humans’ dietary staples, particularly those of Westerners, have serious consequences . The environmental impacts of cattle products such as beef are especially costly: the animals produce nearly 10 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions , and growing food for them spurs deforestation. Pork brings a separate set of environmental hazards, notably water pollution from pig waste. The chicken industry faces similar issues.

But how do you get from the challenge of providing sufficient protein to farming pythons for meat? For Dan Natusch, a herpetologist at Macquarie University in Australia, the idea came about tangentially. He and his colleagues were working with existing commercial python farms in Vietnam and Thailand to determine whether they could distinguish wild-bred snakes from captive-bred ones. During the study, the researchers noticed the farmed pythons’ propensity for speedy growth , which they’ve documented in research published in Scientific Reports on March 14.

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“As snake biologists, we already knew that pythons had impressive physiologies,” Natusch says. “After speaking with the python farmers and continuing to monitor their growth rates, their remarkable physiologies became even more apparent.”

Part of the explanation boils down to biology. Pythons, like all snakes, are ectotherms, or cold-blooded animals, which means their body temperature is controlled by their surroundings. This lifestyle makes snakes prone to sunbathing, but it also means that, unlike mammals , ectotherms don’t need to produce heat to keep themselves warm—a major source of energy savings that allows them to efficiently convert food into body mass.

Natusch and his colleagues decided to quantify that efficiency. The team studied reticulated pythons ( Malayopython reticulatus ) and Burmese pythons ( Python bivittatus ) on the farms, analyzing what they ate and how quickly they grew.

In particular, the researchers were struck by the pythons’ resilience during long fasts: the animals sometimes went months without eating but also without losing much weight. “Observing the ability of relatively young snakes to go many months without food and remain in a healthy state with minimal loss of body condition was really astounding,” Natusch says. Notably, he and his colleagues think that such resilience could be valuable during a major disruption to the food system, such as what occurred during the early days of the COVID pandemic, when some farmers couldn’t afford to keep feeding their livestock but also couldn’t get them to processors.

“Because we expect even greater global economic and climatic volatility in [the] future, pythons could be a solution for those future challenges,” Natusch says. “Farming pythons could be a big part of the solution for a part of the world that is already suffering from severe protein deficiency,” such as Africa.

Yet Zurek says it’s too early to bet on snakes, despite their impressive metabolic feats, to revolutionize our food systems. She sees a need for many more studies about pythons—especially detailed analyses of the environmental impact of farming them and of their nutritional content, including both proteins and micronutrients. “The current study opens up an interesting step in that direction, but you need to complement that with a whole bunch of additional studies to look at these other aspects before you can really say, ‘Yeah, that’s an option,’” Zurek says.

And of course, it all depends on whether people will take to eating python. Natusch says python meat is “pretty tasty and versatile” and argues that by his tally, a billion people in Southeast and East Asia, as well as parts of Latin America and Africa, already consider snake meat a culturally acceptable food. “It is really just Western cultures (which have few naturally occurring large reptiles) that haven’t been exposed to it,” he says.

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Wildlife experts capture 500lb of mating Burmese pythons in Florida

Catch of 11 snakes after discovery of two ‘mating balls’ adds to total of 34,000lbs of pythons captured in one part of state since 2013

Wildlife experts in Florida recently captured 500lb worth of Burmese pythons after finding two large snake “mating balls” in the south-west of the state, as part of a continued effort to prevent the non-native species from harming Floridian wildlife.

The catch of a total of 11 pythons was a record for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida (CSWF), the Miami Herald reported – and it adds to the total of 34,000lb of pythons captured in that part of the state since 2013.

Pythons, which are native to south-east Asia, made their way to Florida through the pet trade beginning in the 1970s, according to the CWSF . They have since established themselves as the apex predator across the Everglades region and are responsible for a 90% decline in native mammal populations.

“For 10 years, we’ve been catching and putting them down humanely,” CWSF biologist Ian Bartoszek wrote in a post on Facebook.

“You can’t put them in zoos and send them back to south-east Asia. Invasive species management doesn’t end with rainbows and kittens. These are remarkable creatures, here through no fault of their own. They are impressive animals, good at what they do.”

The CWSF found three snakes coiled in one mating ball. There were six in another “writhing’”, 7ft-wide mating ball, the Miami Herald reported. Two more pythons were captured nearby.

According to an article titled Animal Sex: How Snakes Do It on the website Live Science , snakes will form a mating ball in the days after they emerge from hibernation.

“Within the snake mass, each male will try his best to get the female to open her cloaca (waste and reproductive orifice) so that he can insert his penis and mate with her,” Live Science wrote.

“Sometimes, males will resort to force by suffocating the female and inducing a stress response in which she opens her cloaca to release feces and musk – giving sneaky males an opportunity to mate.”

BBC Wildlife reported that male snakes “are equipped with two penises” and can “use either to mate”.

Studies have shown that pythons, which can grow to 19ft long, are eating “at least 24 species of mammal, 47 species of bird and three reptile species in south Florida”, the Miami Herald reported. That includes deer.

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Australia Dispatch

Snakes in the Grass — and Under the Piano, by the Pool and in the Prison

Business is good for snake catchers in Australia, as the period of brumation, a sort of hibernation for reptiles, is shrinking — a result of the warming earth.

Stuart McKenzie, who runs a snake-catching service in the Sunshine Coast, Australia, removing a python from a storage shed in a school. Credit...

Supported by

By Natasha Frost

Photographs and Video by David Maurice Smith

Natasha Frost spent two days trailing snake catchers on the Sunshine Coast, Australia.

• March 14, 2024

The phone rings. It’s the local prison. There’s a snake in a cell. Within a few hours, snakes have also been spotted at a school, beneath a piano stored in a private garage and near a lagoon-like swimming pool at a retirement home. Customers want them gone.

Business has never been so good for Stuart McKenzie, who runs a snake-catching service in the Sunshine Coast, a verdant enclave along miles of pristine beach in the vast Australian state of Queensland. On the busiest days, he can receive more than 35 calls about troublesome snakes.

Queensland is home to the largest number of snake species in Australia — about 120. Of those, two-thirds are venomous and a handful are deadly. Throughout Australia, fatalities from snake bites remain extremely rare — about two a year — and in Queensland, the reptiles are simply a part of life.

In the cooler months of the year — historically from April to September — snakes become sluggish and may not eat, drink, defecate or even move for weeks at a time. But as the world warms and the climate in southern Queensland shifts from subtropical to tropical, this period of brumation is shrinking — meaning more run-ins between humans and the animals.

“Not only are snakes becoming more active earlier in the year and staying active longer in the year, but it also means that they’re going to stay active longer into the night,” said Bryan Fry, a professor of biology at the University of Queensland. On nights with temperatures above about 28 or 29 degrees Celsius, or 82 degrees Fahrenheit, he added, snakes will remain active all night long.

Mr. McKenzie, 35, of Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7, says his winter break is getting shorter and shorter.

On one recent job, a four-foot brown snake — the world’s second-most venomous snake species, despite the understated name — was wedged between a fly screen and a window, and needed to be taken out. More straightforward was a request to remove a nonvenomous carpet python, its body intricately patterned with whorls and swirls, coiled in the depths of a shed. (Snake removal fees start at 154 Australian dollars, or around $100.)

Snake catchers travel light. On a typical job, they may carry little more than a metal hook, used to gently prod a snake out from under furniture or push it into place, and a large cotton bag into which snakes are relocated. In every job, the aim is to harm or disrupt the snake as little as possible — and then to bring it somewhere it is less likely to run into trouble.

With the population of the Sunshine Coast projected to increase more than 50 percent to about half a million people in the 25 years to 2041, deforestation is happening at speed . More housing is being built, and many snakes who once dwelled in native bush land are finding sanctuary — and a reliable source of food and water — in homes intended for humans.

Most run-ins are without incident. But fear and misinformation still proliferate, Mr. McKenzie said, as well as lingering perceptions among older generations of Australians that “the only good snake is a dead snake.”

Mr. McKenzie can catch highly venomous reptiles with his bare hands and a balletic fluidity. But he must also be almost as nimble to wrangle the humans. Customers can be intensely afraid of snakes, and if passers-by see him releasing a healthy specimen into the wild after it has been removed from a home, they may respond with fear, rage or tears.

Like kangaroos, koalas and other Australian wildlife, snakes are protected under law, and they play a critical role in the ecosystem by keeping pests at bay. Researchers from Macquarie University found that by eating mice and rats, snakes’ benefits to farmers far outweigh the potential costs of having a venomous creature on site.

As a small and harmless tree snake was removed from her bedroom, Doris Hyde, 96, explained how she had panicked and, on instinct, hit the animal with a jet of fly spray. “I thought it might make it sick,” she said.

“You mustn’t do that,” Mr. McKenzie said, because it could injure the animal. “Next time, just call us,” he added, as he rinsed off the creature under the kitchen faucet.

For every snake that can be peaceably placed in a bag and taken far away, there are many more that vanish before a snake catcher can even arrive. On one such fruitless job, Mr. McKenzie strode through some bushes near a retirement home, pushing foliage to one side and looking deep into an outhouse by the pool. The sun beat down, and he lifted an arm to wipe his brow.

“Just long, sweaty days,” he said, “chasing extremely dangerous snakes.”

Unwell snakes receive care at the nearby Australia Zoo, founded by the conservationist Steve Irwin . On a recent Thursday, Mr. McKenzie brought three injured pythons to the clinic. Two accepted an inspection with relative grace, but the third lashed across the floor, motioning its head as if to bite Mr. McKenzie’s left knee as he held its tail steady in his hand.

“He’s a cranky-pants,” said Katie Whittle, the veterinarian.

Mr. McKenzie’s business has appeared on local television, and it has a substantial social media following on TikTok , Instagram and Facebook , with posts of videos and pictures of snakes eating improbably large possums, hanging out in places they shouldn’t be and generally getting into ophidian mischief.

Mr. McKenzie, who employs a social media manager to maintain a rigorous posting schedule, attempts to strike a balance between “nice, easy carpet python catches,” he said, “and defensive brown snake scary catches” to dissuade people from trying to handle snakes themselves without proper training.

In his current job for the last seven years, Mr. McKenzie previously worked as a reptile handler at the Australia Zoo. Since childhood, he has had blue-tongued lizards as pets, but he was initially wary of snakes and had little interest in handling them. Only after working with them every day at the zoo, he said, did he think: “Geez, these things are actually really cool.”

In recent years, his business has expanded to include seven snake catchers and dozens of subcontractors across Queensland. Still, the hours can be relentless.

“It’s one of those jobs that can take a toll,” he said.

Natasha Frost writes The Times’s weekday newsletter The Europe Morning Briefing and reports on Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. She is based in Melbourne, Australia. More about Natasha Frost

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