SNAKES

Cobra

   There are many kinds of Snakes, like Cobras, Rattlesnakes, Mambas and many more. Snakes can not hear, but they can feal vibrations. Some Snakes are venomous. Venomous Snakes have special teeth called fangs which are used for injecting the venom.

   There are different kinds of Cobras, like Spitting Cobras, Egyptian Cobras, Indian Cobras, and  more. Cobras are venomous. Spitting Cobras are named for how they use their venom. They spit their venom into their prey's eyes and blind them. Cobras eat small animals like rats, mice, birds, and toads. There are six kinds of Cobras. Five kinds live in Africa and the other kind lives in Asia.

Rattlesnakes are named for the rattle on their tail. Each time a rattlesnake sheds, another button is added to its rattle. Rattlesnakes hunt at night. Rattlesnakes are venomous too.

   There are some harmless Snakes out there too, like racers, bull snakes, and scarlet snakes.

I took this photo of a bull snake
in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

All sea snakes are venomous but they don't always snap, even when they are being held. Some people mistake the harmless scarlet snake for the venomous Coral snake. Some threats to snakes are mongoose, wild boar, birds, and humans.

   When snakes want to go fast they curve their body in a squiggly motion. Snakes come in different sizes.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Richardson, Adele. Rattlesnakes. Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Press, 2003.

Green, Carl R. The Cobra. Mankato, Minnesota: Crestwood House, 1986.

Fichter, George S. Snakes Around The World. London: Franklin Watts, 1980.

Photos from Google Images, with the exception of the bull snake photo.

Crocodilians

   Crocodilians are a group of reptiles. Crocodiles, Alligators, Caimans and Gavials are all crocodilians. To tell the difference, look at their snout.
 

Crocodile

There are different kinds of crocodiles, like the Nile Crocodile, the Saltwater Crocodile, and the Freshwater Crocodile. Crocodiles eat birds, pigs, deer and other animals. Crocodiles hunt with the top of their head exposed so that they can see, hear and breathe. With large prey, crocodiles use their tail to knock their prey into the water, bite them and take them underwater for a death roll. For smaller prey they sneak up and with a snap of their powerful jaws they have a meal. Crocodiles live in swampy places all over Africa and Australia. Crocodiles have long pointed snouts.

Alligator

     Alligators hunt the same way crocodiles do. Alligators eat birds and pigs. Alligators live in South and North America. There is a smaller version of an Alligator called a Caiman. Alligators have wide rounded snouts.

Gavial

    Gavials are a less known Crocodilian. Gavials have another name: Gharials. Gavials live in Asia. Gavials eat fish.

    Other animals can be threats. Birds can carry away young crocodilians. Monitor Lizards will eat eggs if they get a chance. Crocodilians are scared of Humans. They might fight each other for territory.

Crocodilians are very stealthy. They can hold their breath for a very long time and swim very quietly. They are very fast swimmers. They are also fast on land. Crocodilians are very good hunters. The way only the top of their head shows it looks like its just a floating log.


Bibliography

Kelly, Miles. Animals of the World. Bath, UK: Parragon, 1999.

Reader's Digest. Marvels and Mysteries of our Animals World. The  Readers Digest Association, Inc. 1964.

Harris, Susan. Crocodiles and Alligators. London, Franklin Watts 1980.


www. encyclopedia.com/topic/gavial.aspx


Photos from Google