#cool snake

Western Patchnose Snake

Salvadora Hexalepis

Habitat: Rocky desert arroyos, canyons, and hillsides in southwestern United States and Mexico. They tend to like places with cacti, thorn scrub, or saltbush vegetation.

Length: 26-35 1/2 inches long but can rarely be 3ft 10in.

Diet: Lizards, small snakes, reptile eggs, small mammals, and birds.

Venom toxicity: non venomous.

Cool Facts

The enlarged scale on their snout helps them dig in the dry to either uncover reptile eggs or excavate a tunnle.

They are a diurnal species with acute eyesight and are one of the few desert species that will be out during the scorching height of the day.

This species is very alert and can avoid many things by high tailing away. If they do get cornered they will inflate their neck. They can lunge to strike from a surprising distance although they have no venom they are said to have large rear fangs but they hold no venom.

Spotted Bushsnake

Philothamnus Semivariegatus

Habitat: Wet and dry forest and savanna, karoo scrub, coastal bush and forest, savannah woodland, semi desert, and riparian desert in sub Saharan Africa; Ethiopia and Sudan to Guinea and South Africa.

Length: 2-3 ft

Diet: Lizards and frogs

Venom toxicity: None

Cool Facts

They are an extremely active arboreal species that hunts geckos, chameleons, and frogs.

They are a diurnal snake that is often found in walls and ceilings of buildings near their habitat. Often times they are mistaken as a Green Mamba and killed needlessly. Spotted bushsnake juveniles are killed by domestic cats frequently when the cats find them in gardens.

Their belly scales or ventral scales are keeled that enable them to climb better.

Golden Tailed Gecko

Strophurus Tacnicauda

Habitat: Open woodland and open forest in Australia.

Length: Almost 3 inches long.

Diet: Insects like flies and crickets.

Venom toxicity: None. When disturbed they will spray a putrid smelling brown, yellow, or orange from their tail to scare away any would be predator.

Cool Facts

The liquid they shoot from their tails is harmless and sticky but the smell is enough to deter most predators like native birds, cats, and dogs.

Scientists have reportedly found that if they mix the foul smelling liquid with ammonia to create an incredibly flammable substance.

They shelter under loose bark or in hollows during the day then go out to hunt insects at night.