Download MS Native Snakes - The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies

REMEMBER:
The Institute for Marine Mammals (IMMS) is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 for the
purposes of public education, conservation and
research of marine animals and sea turtles in the
wild and under human care. Located in Gulfport,
MS, IMMS is the premiere organization in the
Mississippi-Louisiana-Alabama sub-region of the
Gulf Coast with capability and expertise to care for
sick and injured marine mammals and sea turtles.
Additionally, IMMS promotes public awareness of
marine conservation issues through its involvement
in the community. IMMS encourages the public to
be good stewards of the environment and
continuously work to improve the quality of life on
the Gulf Coast.
Institute for Marine Mammals Studies
P.O. Box 207
Gulfport, MS 39502
Phone: 228-896-9182
Fax: 228-896-9183
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.IMMS.org
Prepared by
Heather Edwards, 2012
This brochure is funded with qualified outer continental shelf
oil and gas revenues by the Coastal Impact Assistance Program, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior through a grant award to the Mississippi
Department of Marine Resources.
Snake Biology
pi
Mississip
Native
Snakes
www.theplatform.info/
feedcontent/article/15886
Snake Biology:
Snakes are ectothermic, meaning they use heat from
the environment to regulate their body temperature.
Snakes are classified as vertebrates, the same as fish,
mammals, birds, and amphibians because they have
a backbone. Snakes are very specialized; they do
not have legs, ears, or eyelids. Snakes use their
forked tongues to smell their surroundings and air
particles. Once a scent is detected, the snake inserts
its tongue into two small holes on top of the mouth
(Jacobson’s organ) where the brain interprets the
smell. Most snakes lay eggs; however, some snakes
hatch eggs inside their bodies. Copperheads, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, garter snakes, and water
snakes give live birth (hatch eggs inside the body).
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Retptilia
Order Squamata
Family: Colubridae
The Colubrid family represents two-thirds of the
population of all snake families. In this family one
will find the following types of snakes on the
Mississippi Gulf Coast:
Nonvenomous Snakes:
Rat snakes: genus, Elaphe
King snakes: genus, Lampropeltis
Water snakes: genus, Nerodia
Garter snakes: genus, Thamnophis
Hognose snakes: genus, Heterodon
http://www.snaketrapsnaketrapping.com/
Evolution of Snakes:
The ancestors of modern snakes and lizards appeared with the first dinosaurs during-the Triassic
period, approximately 200 million years ago. It is
believed that modern snakes (suborder Serpentes)
were derived from the lizards in the Cretaceous period, roughly 130 million years ago.
http://chsbiochemjournal09.blogspot.com/2009/07/digestive-
Venomous Snakes:
Coral Snake: Family Elapidae
Pit Viper: Family Viperidae
http://www.backyardnature.net/snakclss.htm
Snake Venom
Venom Verses Poison
Fun Snake Facts
Types of Venom:
Hemotoxic venom affects the blood and organs,
causing a breakdown or inflammation in the body.
Hemotoxic bites are the most painful; the muscles controlling breathing are paralyzed; and tissue begins to
die, i.e., Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Copperheads, and Cottonmouths.
Neurotoxic venom affects the nervous system and the
brain. This type venom can cause seizures and may
lead to death. Neurotoxic bites are the most deadly,
i.e., Coral Snake.
Cytotoxic venom has a localized effect to the bite
area.
Types of Venomous Snakes:
Family Elapidae: The Most Deadly
Species in Mississippi: Coral Snake
Common Elapidae Species : Cobra, Mamba, Brown,
Tiger, and Taipan.
Common traits of the Elapidae snakes are: venom,
hollow fixed fangs, long slender bodies, and smooth
scales. Most venom of the Elapidae family is fastacting and can cause paralysis of muscles within
minutes.
Poison is a substance that is
consumed or absorbed through
the skin, resulting in toxicity.
Some fish, insects, and amphibians secrete poisonous
substances. Poison is naturally
used as a defense tool and is seldom used to impair
prey.
Venom:
Venom is a toxic material that is injected into the
body or prey. Snakes are not poisonous; they are venomous, because they inject the toxins used for defense
or to harm prey. The venom is created in a gland located in the head of the snake. Venomous snakes
have true and false venom glands that are differentiated by the snake based on its usage. A true venomous
snake such as the Viperdae can strike without using
venom; this is called a warning strike and is often
referred to as a dry bite.
Family Viperdae: The Most Painful
Species in Mississippi: Rattlesnakes, and Copperheads
Common Viperdae Species: Vipers, Adder, Bushmaster, Sidewinder.
The effects of a bite from the family, Viperdae, are the
most painful due to the cytotoxins immediately destroying the tissue. The hemotoxins, in large amounts,
can cause internal bleeding and cause excessive bloodclotting, and organ failure. The fangs of a rattlesnake
or copperhead snake are hinged, long, and hollow.
http://globetrooper.com/notes/science-venomous-snake-bites/
Venomous
Poison:
http://www.preservevenomous.com/Venom_Vs_Poison/
Nonvenomous
Photo Identification Sheet
Nonvenomous
Venomous
Southern Copperhead
Characteristics

There are more than 2,700 species of snakes in
the world. Of the 2,700 species, 140 live in the
United States and 40 species are native to Mississippi. Six of the 40 species are venomous.

Reptiles exist worldwide and can be found in
deserts, forests, the world’s ocean, streams, and
even lakes. Snakes live on the ground, in trees,
and in the water. Snakes cannot survive in
places such as the Arctic Circle, at altitudes of
approximately 20,000 feet, and Antarctica.

Snakes have between (100400) vertebrae, for each
vertebra snakes have two
ribs attached.

Ectothermic
They are cold-blooded

Scaly Skin (coat of armor)
Scales are used as skin.

Lungs (two lungs)
They never have gills.

Jaws are hinged, i.e.
the jaws are not fused together.

Most species lay eggs.
http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/snakes/facts03.htm
Coral Snake
Black Pine Snake
Red touches
Yellow kill a
fellow.
Red
touches
Black friend
of Jack’s.
Eastern Diamondback
Rattlesnake
Dusky Pygmy
Rattlesnake
Eastern Cottonmouth
Scarlet King Snake
Black Rat Snake
Eastern Ribbon Snake
Common Garter