The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is a large venomous snake native to the southeastern region of the United States.
It can grow up to 8 feet long and has a unique zigzagging diamond pattern in bright yellows and earth tones on its back. This colorful pattern warns other animals of its lethal venom. Its dark skin allows it to blend in with fallen leaves and shadows.
The Eastern Diamondback lives in various habitats, from North Carolina to Louisiana, from pine-clad flatwoods coastal scrub habitats to barrier islands.
Despite their menacing appearance, they are not typically aggressive. Besides its prey, the Eastern Diamondback only attacks other animals when the snake feels threatened. Its venom paralyzes its victims and aids in digestion.
Before biting, the snake will shake its rattle, made from the same keratin found in hair and nails, to warn intruders.
Read more: Rattlesnake Facts, Types of Rattlesnake.
The Emerald Tree Boa lives in the rainforests of South America. Its radiant green scales make it stand out amongst the foliage.
They prefer to reside in treetops, avoiding the busy forest floor. Its emerald coloration allows it to blend in with its surroundings.
Its diet mainly consists of small mammals and birds; the species has honed its hunting skills to become experts at using heat-sense pits to detect warm-blooded prey.
The Emerald Tree Boa also possesses elongated front teeth, which aid in capturing and holding onto their prey. These boas are primarily nocturnal and solitary.
Interestingly, they give birth to live young, covered in reddish-brown scales.
The Gaboon Viper is a venomous snake in Sub-Saharan African rainforests and savannas.
It is one of the heaviest venomous snakes in the region, whose body features diamonds, bands, and spots, allowing it to blend well with the forest floor.
The snake's deceptive appearance often results in the death of small and medium-sized mammals and birds who wander too close.
Moreover, the Gaboon Viper has the longest fangs of any snake species, measuring up to two inches. Its triangular head also has modified scales that resemble horns, adding to its unique appearance.
This snake avoids unnecessary confrontations and prefers to keep a low profile. However, its venom contains potent toxins that can cause significant tissue damage and swelling. Although it is rarely lethal to humans, a bite from this snake can be excruciating.
Garter snakes live in North America. To spot this type of snake, look for the stripes along its body, resembling the garters used to hold up stockings.
Moreover, there are approximately 35 different species of garter snakes3, each with its distinct colors and patterns. No two garter snakes are exactly alike.
The harmless garter snakes are moderately sized, ranging from 23 to 30 inches. They live in various landscapes, such as woodlands, meadows, marshlands, and urban areas, where they feed on earthworms, slugs, frogs, fish, and small mammals.
While they pose no danger, a few species of garter snakes produce neurotoxin, which is exceptionally mild.
Unlike most snakes, garter snakes are active during the day and can withstand cold temperatures.
The king Cobra is the world's longest venomous snake, measuring up to 18 feet long.
This creature lives in the forests of India and Southeast Asia, where it lives on the ground and in trees. Its scales range from olive green to deep black, moving fluidly and serenely.
Despite their reputation as dangerous snakes, King Cobras display some surprising behaviors.
Females build nests for their eggs, a behavior typically associated with birds. Their nests provide a secure home for their offspring.
Unlike most venomous snakes, the King Cobra’s venom is so lethal it can kill elephants. Thankfully, this snake does not seek out confrontation. Instead, it flares its hood and lifts a third of its body off the ground, intimidating other animals, striking only as a last resort.
Additionally, the King Cobra eats other snakes, regulating their populations and maintaining the health of its ecosystem.
The King Snake lives in North America. Its distinct bands of red, white, and black help it blend in with the shadows and light of the forests and desert.
Surprisingly, the King Snake is not venomous. But, it should not be underestimated.
The King Snake feeds on other snakes; their immunity to venom allows them to eat rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths. During feeding, it chokes the life out of its prey.
The Milk Snake is a brightly colored species in various landscapes across North and South America. Its distinctive red, white, and black bands often lead to confusion with the venomous Coral Snakes.
Unlike Coral Snakes, Milk Snakes are harmless snakes. These nonvenomous snakes have red and black bands.
The Milk Snake is nocturnal, tending to hide in burrows and shadows during the day. It emerges at night to hunt suffocating prey like rodents, birds, reptiles, and eggs.
This diverse diet, combined with the Milk Snake's adeptness at hiding, allows it to thrive in various environments, including dense forests, open fields, and arid deserts.
Milk Snakes can also vibrate their rattles when threatened. However, we must remember that these snakes are generally peaceful and prefer avoiding humans.
The Green Tree Python lives in the treetops of New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Cape York Peninsula in Australia.
Its green coloration allows it to blend in seamlessly with its leafy surroundings. This species has adapted well to life above ground, with its slender body quickly coiling around tree branches.
Interestingly, Green Tree Pythons change color as they age. When young, they are yellow or red but transform into a vibrant green as they mature.
The Green Tree Python patiently waits for prey to pass before striking. Besides its vision, it has heat-sensing pits on its lips, enabling it to detect warm-blooded prey in the chilly forest environment.
When threatened, the Green Tree Python curls into a tight ball with its head safely tucked within the coil.
Belonging to the Elapidae family, the coral snake is known for its iconic red, yellow/white, and black banding pattern, which serves as a visual warning to potential predators about its deadly venom.
Coral snakes represent a significant collection of snake species split into two main groups: the Old World coral snakes, found primarily in Asia, and the New World coral snakes, found across the Americas.
In North America, coral snakes are known for their potent neurotoxic snake venom, which targets the nervous system and can result in severe symptoms if not treated promptly. Despite their small size, both the Eastern and Arizona coral snake species, two of the most commonly found coral snake species in America, carry a highly effective venom, yet are rarely a problem for humans, whom they tend to avoid.
Furthermore, these snakes exhibit a fascinating behavior known as "shy biting," where they often hold onto their prey after biting instead of striking and releasing.
The Crested Gecko is native to the South Pacific islands of New Caledonia. A fully grown adult measures 7-9 inches and is calm and docile. These nocturnal reptiles use their semi-prehensile tail to navigate and maintain balance.
They have distinctive hair-like protrusions above their eyes that resemble eyelashes. Their skin can showcase various colors and patterns, making them a popular choice among reptile enthusiasts.
A crested gecko's diet includes grasshoppers, ants, spiders, crickets, worms, and the occasional fruit. Unlike other gecko species, they do not have adhesive toe pads.
Crested Geckos use a combination of chirps, squeaks, and subtle body language to communicate. They can also change colors and patterns based on mood, health, or environmental factors.
