National Geographic Kids - USA (2019-10)

Snakes slithered onto the scene

more than a hundred million years ago,

when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth.

More primitive snakes, such as boas and

pythons, have traces of hind leg bones in

their skeleton. This is evidence that the

snakes evolved from lizard-like animals with

legs. Over time, snakes lost their limbs.

Their advantage? With its body on the

ground, a snake can sense the vibra-

tions that tell it when food—or

danger—is nearby.

SNAKES

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NAT GEO KIDS (^27)
Ever feel so hungry you could
swallow a meal in one gulp? A snake can!
Its lower jawbone is hinged loosely in back,
so the snake can open superwide. The snake’s
backward-curved teeth are designed to grab
prey and move it down its throat. Loosely
attached ribs and elastic skin expand as the
food moves on down. Boas and other
huge snakes can even eat goats and
deer. After a big meal, snakes
can go weeks without
food.
SNAKES
DON’T CHEW.
AFRICAN SAW-
SCALED VIPER
SYMPTOMS IF BITTEN:
blistering, hemorrhaging,
tissue death
USED TO TREAT:
heart attacks
INDIAN COBRA
SYMPTOMS IF BITTEN:
swelling, bruising,
paralysis, blistering,
respiratory failure
USED TO TREAT:
arthritis
KING COBRA
SYMPTOMS IF BITTEN:
drowsiness, difficulty
breathing, limb paralysis,
convulsions, headache,
loss of consciousness
USED TO TREAT:
neurological conditions
BRAZILIAN
PIT VIPER
SYMPTOMS IF BITTEN:
tissue death, bleeding,
kidney failure
USED TO TREAT:
high blood
pressure
Snakes don’t have external ears
to hear sound waves in the air.
Instead, bones in their lower jaw pick
up vibrations in the ground or water.
The vibes trigger signals in the
snakes’ brains, which are received
as messages. “Juicy mouse
coming closer!”
SNAKES
CAN’T HEAR.
VINE SNAKE
SEDGE VIPER