Snakes

Snakes have a long, flexible body that is covered with dry scales. Snakes flick their forked tongues to bring in odors to their sensory glands.

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The Watery World of the Monster Anaconda

The green anaconda is the largest of the anaconda species, which makes it arguably the biggest snake in the world.

By Mark Mancini Feb 20, 2020 Reptiles / Snakes

Why a Spotted Python Should Totally Be Your Next Pet

From its small size to its docile nature and long life span, the spotted python fills the bill as a great family pet. Our writer should know, he's got one.

By Mark Mancini Feb 4, 2020 Reptiles / Snakes

Corn Snakes Are Perfect Pets For Reptile Enthusiasts

These modern rat snakes have an affinity for barns (and the rodents that live in them). But the myriad of colors makes them a reptile hobbyist's dream.

By Mark Mancini Oct 4, 2019 Reptiles / Snakes

Coral Snakes: Brightly Banded and Highly Venomous

These colorful snakes are found all over the world and are highly venomous, so the best strategy is to avoid them.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Aug 9, 2019 Reptiles / Snakes

Water Moccasin, Cottonmouth: Different Names, Same Venomous Snake

Cottonmouth snakes are often called water moccasins and are one of only four venomous snakes found in North America.

By John Perritano Jul 8, 2019 Reptiles / Snakes

Copperhead Snakes: Not Always Lethal, But Best Left Alone

Though a copperhead will bite if disturbed, and it is venomous, its bite is rarely fatal.

By John Perritano Jul 1, 2019 Reptiles / Snakes

The Harmless Garter Snake Is Your Garden's Best Friend

Garter snakes are harmless, very common and beneficially feed on slugs, leeches, large insects and small rodents in North American gardens.

By John Perritano Jun 17, 2019 Reptiles / Snakes

How Did Snakes Lose Their Legs?

Snakes and lizards share a common ancestor, and snakes still have the genetic coding for legs and feet. So where did those appendages go?

By Nathan Chandler Mar 25, 2019 Reptiles / Snakes

Florida Enlists Expert Indian Snake Hunters to Solve Its Python Problem

Irula tribesmen, pros at catching deadly snakes, traveled all the way from India to be on the Burmese python case in South Florida.

By Kate Kershner Feb 1, 2017 Reptiles / Snakes

Caves of Hanging Snakes

At night in caves around the world, dangling snakes emerge from hiding ready to scarf up flying bats.

By Sarah Gleim Oct 29, 2015 Reptiles / Snakes

How Snake Handlers Work

When you handle deadly snakes for a living, caution is job one. When you handle snakes for God, it is not. Let's meet some folks in both worlds.

By Julia Layton Reptiles / Snakes

What’s the largest snake that has ever existed?

Prepare to meet the king of snakes, the largest serpent to ever slither its way out of prehistory and into your nightmares.

By Robert Lamb Reptiles / Snakes

Lace Monitor Facts, Pictures, Video

Meet the lace monitor! View pictures, watch video, read facts, explore interactives and more.

Reptiles / Snakes

How to Scare Away Rattlesnakes

You may encounter a rattle snake lazing in its natural habitat and want to know how to scare it away. Learn about how to scare away rattlesnakes in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Reptiles / Snakes

How to Breed Ring-neck Snakes

Learn how to breed ring-neck snakes and start a successful breeding business. Learn about how to breed a ring-neck snake in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Reptiles / Snakes

How to Know if a Snake Is Venomous

Learning how to know if a snake is venomous isn't hard. Learn about how to know if a snake is venomous in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Reptiles / Snakes

How to Identify the Pygmy Rattlesnake

If you are in the Southeastern United States, you should know how to identify a pygmy rattlesnake. Learn about how to identify the pygmy rattlesnake in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Reptiles / Snakes

How to Identify Garden Snakes

You can identify garden snakes, more commonly called garter snakes, by the three stripes on their backs that are reminiscent of garters. Learn about how to identify garden snakes in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Reptiles / Snakes

What's the difference between a snake and a legless lizard?

That slithery, snakelike form that just darted past might not be a snake after all. It could be legless lizard, an animal that evolved from an entirely different line.

By Julia Layton Reptiles / Snakes

Venomous Snakes

The fear of snakes, ophidiophobia, is one of the most widespread phobias in the world. There are many types of harmless snakes, but the venom from some poisonous varieties can kill a person

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd. Reptiles / Snakes