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Snakes
Snakes
Snakes are a suborder of reptiles and are fascinating creatures found all over the world, except in Antarctica. They have an elongated, limbless body and a short tail. Their bodies are covered in scales. The closest relatives to snakes are lizards and amphisbaenians, and together they form the order of scaled reptiles.
The shortest snake is about ten centimeters long, while the longest can grow up to seven meters. They move by slithering from side to side and have a highly flexible jaw that allows them to swallow prey much larger than the width of their own head. After swallowing their prey, they digest it slowly in a state of torpor. Most snakes lay eggs, but some species give birth to live young.
As of 2018, approximately 3,709 snake species had been recorded, but today, around 3,900 species are known. They inhabit a wide range of environments and are particularly common in tropical and subtropical regions. In Norway, there are three snake species: the European adder (huggorm), the grass snake (buorm), and the smooth snake (slettsnok).
Venomous and constrictor
Of the many snake species that exist, around 600 are venomous, but only 200 of them are dangerous enough to pose a serious threat to humans. Venomous snakes, such as cobras, vipers, taipans, and sea snakes, use their venom to paralyze or kill their prey. The venom can have various properties – some attack the nervous system (neurotoxins), while others destroy tissue and blood cells (hemotoxins). Constrictor snakes, such as pythons and boas, kill their prey in a different way. They coil their bodies around the prey and tighten their grip with each exhalation, until the prey can no longer breathe and dies from suffocation.
Is snakes dangerous?
Despite the fact that there are nearly 4,000 different snake species, very few pose a real threat to humans. Most snakes are harmless and will prefer to flee rather than attack. Even among the venomous species, most bite only in self-defense. In fact, many snakes are important for the ecosystem by keeping populations of rodents and other small animals in check.
The snakes in Tangen Dyrepark
In Tangen Animal Park, we have 6 species of snakes.
Several of them have been relocated after illegal importation. All of our snakes are constrictors and therefore non-venomous.
You can read more about them below:
Bestemor
Species: Tigerpython
Age: 12-15 år
Length: ca. 4 meter
Weight: 35 kg
Ingeborg
Species: Kingsnake
Age:
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Weight:
Guttorm
Species: Ballpython
Age:
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Weight:
Gorgon
Species: Corn snake
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Sigurd
Species: Carpet python
Age: 11
Length:
Weight:
Bodil
Species: Boa constrictor
Age:
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Weight:
Did you know?
Ectothermic
Snakes are ectothermic animals, meaning they depend on external heat to regulate their body temperature.
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Birth
Most snakes lay eggs, while others give birth to live young.
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Acters
Hognose snakes (Heterodon) have a dramatic defense mechanism – if they feel threatened, they roll onto their backs, open their mouths, and play dead. They can even release a foul odor to make the act more convincing!