more general info

Where Snakes Live

The Deserts

Snakes seem to be ideally suited to arid areas, as they take most of their fluids from prey and therefore need very little water. The amount of food they need is also minimal. Being ectothermic, snakes need only one-twentieth the amount of food mammals require; they can go many months without food (though this is not recommended!). Most snakes stay in shelters such as burrows during the day, emerging at dusk and retreating when it gets too cold or when morning arrives. Their slender shape allows them to escape the potentially lethal highs and lows in the desert by crawling into crevices and burrows into which other desert-dwellers cannot. Their scales limit water loss, a very important factor in this scorching, water-deprived land. Numerous species have adapted to these arid and semi-arid conditions, including vipers such as rattlesnakes, colubrids like kingsnakes, boids and many others. Reptiles are more common in the desert than most other kinds of animals, being better suited to this barren lifestyle. Snakes are one of the most successful desert animals.

Tropical Forests

Tropical forests are well known for their diversity in flora and fauna. Rainforests are one of the most ideal habitats for snakes; temperature is seldom a problem, as it is always warm near the equator, the humidity is high, and water is abundant. They have a wide range of microhabitats such as terrestrial, arboreal, fossorial, and aquatic. Places to hide abound in the rainforest since the vegetation is thick; food is abundant, so snakes can be selective to what they want to eat. Contrary to popular belief, the number of snakes to each species are suprisingly low in the rainforests. In a study conducted, it was found that the diversity was high, but the numbers of individual species were low; of the fifteen families recognized, all were found except the families boyleridae and acrochordidae.

Temperate Forests

In contrast to tropical forests, temperate forests are not rich in snakes, neither in species nor in numbers. The cool climate of temperate regions is compounded by the canopy cover and such species that are found in this habitat are usually restricted to lightly wooded areas, forest fringes, and clearings. Due to agricultural practices, the temperate forests are decreasing, leading to a reduction in numbers of snakes.

Swamps and Marshes

Swamps and marshes may be found where the water table is close to the surface. They may be permanent or seasonal, tropical or temperate. Watersnakes (genus Nerodia) and gartersnakes (genus Thamnophis) are some kinds of snakes that live on the fringes of ponds, lakes, and creeks, feeding on fishes and amphibians. Some inhabit semi-saltwater mangrove forests where the climate is warm and the food is plentiful. Semi-aquatic areas usually have an abundance of food as the water attracts numerous animals. Snakes seem to have taken good advantage of the swamps and marshes.

Savannahs and Grasslands

Grasslands range throughout the middle latitudes covering about 1/4 of the world's surface. The grasslands are known locally under such names as prairie (in North America), savannah (in Africa), and steppe (in Asia). This habitat seems to have never been fully inhabited by snakes, as there is little cover, making it easy to be spotted by predators. Overall temperatures may be too low in many of these areas and food supply sparse. However, several snakes have adapted to living in grasslands: a few Pythons, some Colubrids such as Western Hognose snakes (Heterodon nascius) and Bullsnakes (Pitouphis sayi), some Elapids, and a few Rattlesnakes, though none of these snakes are restricted solely to savannahs.

Aquatic Habitats

Only a few specialized species are totally at home in the water. Completely aquatic snakes such as sea kraits (Laticaudidae) and sea snakes (Hydropheidae) are limited to the tropics zone because the water temperature has to be close to their comfort level. All sea snakes are fatally venomous and that is how they catch their food. Most aquatic snakes mainly feed on fish, though some also eat eggs, shrimp and other invertebrates. This is another habitat that is not widely used when it comes to snakes.