With the exception of Antarctica, snakes are everywhere on the globe in warm and temperate geographical areas. The diversity of the 2,700 snakes species is relevant in the size differences too: there are some only a few centimeters long while others reach the impressive length of nine meters like the anacondas or the pythons. Poisonous snakes are far less numerous in this huge reptile family, but venom they inject in prey is so powerful that it could kill a human being within a few minutes. According to studies, the history and origins of snakes are lost in the Cretaceous period, some 150 million years ago, when snakes are assumed to have evolved from a lizard and changed their living environment.
Primitive distinctive marks of this ancestry are still present with some snakes, this is the case with pythons and boas that still have vestiges of hind limbs, which only make us think of a past when snakes were more lizard-like than they are today. Snakes or serpents are present in all cultures, carrying symbolic meanings and being widely illustrated in the arts. Worshiped or hunted down as evil creatures, snakes surely have a fascination on human mind; yet, modern attitudes have changed towards snakes under the pressure of ecologist organization that insist on the importance of these creatures for the environment of the planet. And many factors confirm such opinions.
There are many aspects in the life of snakes that fascinate scientists and indicate that there are more things to learn about the many existing species. Thus, it is interesting to study how the patterns on the body of snakes differentiate between individuals even within the same species. Then, snakes' sensitivity to vibrations, the superior sense of smell and even the reception of low frequency sounds indicate the fact that snakes are fascinating. The same amount of scientific respect is due in terms of anatomical programing by the presence of the infrared sensitive receptors that allow pit vipers for instance to detect the warmth of the prey's body.
Common habitats for humans and snakes are a reality, and people living in areas with a higher density of snake groups and sub-groups develop skills to distinguish between the hazardous or harmless varieties, and thus they reduce the risk of snakebites. Non-venomous snakes could also bite and injure one seriously when sensing danger, therefore, a avoidance and respect of the snakes' habitat remain the most effective prevention means. Do not try to kill, catch or hunt snakes: they only feed and defend themselves as they cannot hold grudge and follow you just for the sake of biting.
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