Today there are more than 2,500 species of snakes in the world. According to official statistics, there are about 410 poisonous species. The rest of the snakes do not pose any danger to human life.
No guilt guilty snakes
In the past, ancient scientists believed that all snakes inhabiting planet Earth were poisonous. Fortunately, it is now known that this is not the case. However, even today one can hear the opinion that the vast majority of snakes are poisonous. For example, they include a harmless copperhead, snakes, etc. Often, due to elementary zoological illiteracy, snakes are subjected to mass destruction, bringing benefits, not harm!
How to distinguish between poisonous and non-venomous snakes?
Head shape. Today, zoologists claim that poisonous snakes differ from non-venomous ones, first of all, in the shape of their head. The fact is that the head of a poisonous snake looks very much like a spearhead, i.e. sharpened to the mouth as much as possible. The head of a non-venomous snake, on the contrary, has a more rounded shape (one should recall snakes or snakes).
The structure of the teeth. Poisonous and non-venomous snakes have completely different structures of their teeth. Snakes, which pose a direct threat to human life, have two large and curved (sometimes straight) movable teeth in the front of the mouth. When the snake closes its mouth, its poisonous teeth, like a folding camping knife, instantly hide in the mouth.
Inside the poisonous teeth there is a special channel, the outlet of which opens in the front of the tooth (next to its tip). The excretory ducts of special glands that produce snake venom come close to the bases of the poisonous teeth. Non-venomous snakes simply do not have such teeth!
In addition, the teeth of poisonous snakes reach a length of 1-2 cm, are thin. Since they are mobile and resemble a folding knife, at the time of the bite, they occupy a vertical position in the mouth. The folds, in which poisonous teeth hide at the moment of closing the mouth, sometimes mask them so thoroughly that at the moment of examination it is possible to make a fatal mistake. If you don't notice the snake's poisonous teeth in time, you can take it for a harmless reptile and become less careful.
Bite marks. After the bite of a poisonous snake, specific teeth marks remain on the skin, in the form of two sickle-shaped stripes, which, in turn, form a semi-oval from small dots. At the site of such a bite, in the front part of the resulting semi-oval, two wounds will be clearly visible - traces of two teeth. Usually, blood oozes from them immediately after the attack of the snake.
A common mistake. Often people believe that snakes "sting" them with their sting, which sticks out of their mouths. It's not like that at all. First, it is not a "sting", but a forked tongue. Secondly, snakes use this delicate and soft organ only for a peculiar sense of smell and touch. They examine the surrounding objects with their tongue, but do not "sting" people in any way. By the way, both poisonous and non-poisonous snakes have a tongue!
Dangerous snakes. All poisonous snakes living on the planet Earth are divided into four families: viper (gyurza, efa, common viper, etc.); snakes (cobras, coral snakes, etc.); rattlesnakes (shitomordniki, crotalids and others); sea poisonous snakes.
