Snakes

A detailed Summary of Snakes

Squamata is the dominant order of living reptiles composed of the lizards and snakes.The

group first appeared in Jurassic times and today is found in all but the coldest regions.Various

forms are adapted for burrowing,or aquatic lives,but most squamata are fundamentally

terrestrial.There are about 4700 Recent species:2200 lizards and 2500 snakes.

The most obvious feature of snakes is the absence of limbs.The entire body of a snake is

covered with scales.It is a common misconception that the skin of a snake is wet and slimy.In

fact,the scales are dry.The scales on the ventral surface help the snake gain a hold on the ground

and push itself forward.The head of the snake has nostrils at the anterior end above the

mouth.Snake eyes have no lids. Instead ,the eyes are covered by a protective membrane. No snake

has external ears,though it does have internal ears in the skull,where you would expect them to

be. The anus marks the boundary between the abdomen and the tail.

The skeleton of the snake is very unique. The most unusual feature of the skull of a snake

is the way the jaws are hinged to the head. Snakes have to be able to open their mouth wide

coiled position with incredible speed. The rattle at the end of the tail serves as a warning for any

occurs in the winter. General activity continues year around in tropic climates. Daily activity

Approximate Word count = 1158
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Science

join now Save Paper

Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

"Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
Jack M.
"With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
Brian P.
"I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
Sara J.
"I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
Rachel W.
"I love this site!!!"
Marie N.