Snakes

The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the longest venomous snake in the world and is one of the few snake species to make a nest for its eggs.

By Desiree Bowie

Pythons, the longest snakes in the world, are nonvenomous with a lethal squeeze. These snakes constrict their prey before devouring the meal.

By Desiree Bowie

Just one bite from any of these venomous snakes could cost you your life. They're some of the deadliest snakes in the world and you don't want to mess with them.

By Sharise Cunningham & Mack Hayden

A new study dispels the myth that snakes are deaf to airborne sounds and reveals that different species react differently to the sounds they hear.

By Christina N. Zdenek

While you may not want to encounter one on a hike, there's no denying that snakes are magnificent creatures - no matter how big or small they are. But when it comes to the biggest snakes in the world, nature truly knows no bounds.

By Mark Mancini, Nicole Antonio & Desiree Bowie

Welcome to the wild, wild world of dual penises, delayed fertilization, mama python incubators and springtime "mating balls."

By Mark Mancini

If you're looking for the venomous timber rattler, the U.S. is the place to be, as these bad boys are found in at least 27 states.

By Mark Mancini

Often confused with the venomous coral snake, which advertises its toxicity through bright bands of color, the milk snake is harmless to humans.

By Mark Mancini & Talon Homer

Pit vipers also carry venom in twin glands behind their eyes, delivered through movable fangs that can be folded up against the roof of their mouth.

By Mark Mancini & Talon Homer

These snakes are some of the best reptilian actors you'll ever meet, but don't let the act fool you.

By Mark Mancini & Talon Homer

To some, the thought of snakes flying through the air is the scariest thought imaginable, but, as we'll explain, flying snakes don't actually fly, they "fall with style."

By Mark Mancini

Despite their name, rat snakes don't eat just rodents. This huge family of snakes, which lives on every continent except Antarctica, also eats lizards and amphibians.

By Mark Mancini & Zach Taras

There are more than 50 species of snakes that live in the seas. Some are super venomous and they can zip through the water with ease.

By Mark Mancini & Talon Homer

A new species of green pit viper found in India has been named after the founder of Harry Potter's Slytherin house.

By Patty Rasmussen

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

By Mark Mancini

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

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

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

By Michelle Konstantinovsky & Talon Homer

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

By John Perritano & Talon Homer

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

By John Perritano & Zach Taras

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

By John Perritano & Talon Homer

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

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

By Sarah Gleim

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

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