Slithery Snakes

Slithery Snakes

Introduction Snakes are reptiles. There are several thousand kinds of snakes. They live in oceans, in trees, and on land, and they survive in unusual ways.

Wild snakes live almost everywhere on Earth except Antarctica and some islands. Some wild snakes may live as long as twenty-five years.

Snake Traits Snakes are cold-blooded. Their body temperature changes with the temperature around them. Snakes find sunshine to stay warm. They find shade to stay cool. During winter, some snakes stay underground or under rock piles to stay warm. Snakes also rest in groups to share body heat.

Snakes have long backbones. Their backbones have many separate bones, which lets them move in many ways. A snake's body is covered in scales. The scales protect it. They also help keep the snake dry. The scales grow from its skin. Snakes use their scales and muscles to move. The scales on their belly grab the surface beneath them. Their muscles help them move along the ground. Some snakes even use their muscles and scales to climb trees.

Snake scales look like a single sheet of skin. Snakes don't shed skin. Instead, they shed the outer layers of their scales up to four times per year. This is called molting. When molting, snakes rub against something like a rock or log. This helps their outer layer stretch and split. Young snakes shed more because they grow fast. Snakes also shed to get rid of pests on their scales.