Snakes Around the World
Instructions: From the king cobra to the tiny thread snake — slither through fascinating facts about one of nature's most misunderstood and remarkable creatures.
- 1.
Which snake species holds the record as the longest in the world, reaching up to 23 feet in length?
AReticulated pythonBKing cobraCBurmese pythonDGreen anaconda - 2.
Which is the only continent on Earth that has no native snake species at all?
AAustraliaBAntarcticaCSouth AmericaDAfrica - 3.
Snakes constantly flick their tongues to collect scent particles from the air, then press the tongue against which special organ to process those smells?
AThe nasal sinusBThe heat pitCJacobson's organDThe eardrum - 4.
The black mamba is the fastest snake in the world, capable of reaching about 12 miles per hour. On which continent does it live?
AAsiaBAustraliaCSouth AmericaDAfrica - 5.
Although the reticulated python is the longest snake, which species holds the record as the heaviest snake in the world?
AGreen anacondaBReticulated pythonCBurmese pythonDAfrican rock python - 6.
The king cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world. What does it mainly eat?
AFrogs and toadsBOther snakesCSmall rodentsDBirds and their eggs - 7.
If you spotted a group of snakes gathered together, what is the correct collective noun you would use?
AA packBA flockCA nest or pitDA herd - 8.
The cottonmouth — also called the water moccasin — is a venomous snake commonly found near rivers, swamps, and lakes. In which region of the United States does it live?
AThe Pacific NorthwestBThe Great PlainsCThe Rocky Mountain regionDThe southeastern United States - 9.
Scientists consider the inland taipan the most venomous land snake on Earth. In which country is it found?
AAustraliaBIndiaCBrazilDSub-Saharan Africa - 10.
Approximately how many species of snakes have scientists identified living on Earth today?
AAbout 1,000BAbout 4,000CAbout 500DAbout 6,000 - 11.
The eastern coral snake, found in the southeastern United States, warns predators with vivid colors. Which color pattern correctly describes it?
AYellow, brown, and green stripesBOrange, white, and red spotsCRed, yellow, and black bandsDBlue and yellow bands - 12.
Which of these North American snakes shakes its tail to produce a distinctive rattling warning sound?
AKing snakeBCottonmouthCCorn snakeDTimber rattlesnake - 13.
The boomslang is a dangerously venomous tree snake whose name means 'tree snake' in Afrikaans. On which continent is it found?
AAfricaBSouth AmericaCAsiaDAustralia - 14.
Snakes that give birth to live young, rather than laying eggs, are described by which scientific term?
AOviparousBViviparousCHerbivorousDArboreal - 15.
The Barbados threadsnake holds the record as the world's smallest known snake. About how long is this tiny reptile?
AAbout 12 inchesBAbout 8 inchesCAbout 4 inchesDAbout 1 inch
Answer Key
The reticulated python of Southeast Asia is the world's longest snake; verified specimens have exceeded 20 feet, with exceptional individuals measured at over 23 feet.
Antarctica is far too cold for snakes, which are cold-blooded reptiles that cannot regulate their own body temperature — making it the one continent with no native snakes.
Jacobson's organ (the vomeronasal organ) sits in the roof of a snake's mouth; it analyzes the scent particles delivered by the tongue, giving snakes a remarkably sharp chemical sense of smell.
The black mamba is native to sub-Saharan Africa, where it lives in savannas, rocky hills, and open woodlands; it is also considered one of the most dangerous snakes in the world.
The green anaconda of South America is the world's heaviest snake, with large females weighing over 200 pounds — far outweighing any other snake species.
The king cobra specializes almost entirely in eating other snakes — even venomous ones — which is precisely why it earned the title of 'king.' Its scientific name, Ophiophagus, literally means 'snake eater.'
A group of snakes is called a nest or a pit — 'pit' is especially common when describing venomous snakes congregating in one place, such as in a den over winter.
The cottonmouth ranges across the southeastern United States, from Virginia down to Florida and west to Texas; it gets its name from the bright white lining it displays when it opens its mouth in warning.
The inland taipan lives in the remote semi-arid regions of central Australia; its venom is so potent that a single bite contains enough toxin to kill dozens of adult humans, though it is a shy snake rarely encountered by people.
More than 4,000 snake species have been identified worldwide, and researchers continue to discover new ones — particularly in tropical forests where many species remain unstudied.
The eastern coral snake is banded in red, yellow, and black; the old rhyme 'red touches yellow, kill a fellow' helps people distinguish it from harmless look-alikes like the scarlet king snake.
The timber rattlesnake vibrates a series of hollow, interlocked keratin segments at the tip of its tail, producing the rattling sound that gives all rattlesnakes their name and warns larger animals to back away.
The boomslang is native to sub-Saharan Africa; it delivers a powerful hemotoxic venom that interferes with blood clotting and was responsible for the death of renowned herpetologist Karl Schmidt in 1957.
Viviparous (or ovoviviparous) snakes carry their eggs internally and give birth to live young; well-known examples include boa constrictors and garter snakes, while pythons and most cobras are egg-layers (oviparous).
First described by scientists in 2008, the Barbados threadsnake measures about 4 inches (10 centimeters) long — small enough to curl up on a U.S. quarter — and is so slender it looks almost like a piece of spaghetti.