Snakes are limbless, elongated reptiles of the suborder Serpentes within the order Squamata, characterized by extreme axial elongation, loss of limbs and external ear openings, and highly kinetic skulls enabling ingestion of large prey. They possess specialized vertebrae and ribs, a forked tongue used with a vomeronasal (Jacobson’s) organ for chemosensory tracking, and often heat-sensing pits in some lineages (e.g., pit vipers, some pythons). Many species exhibit venom-delivery systems involving modified salivary glands and fangs, while others rely on constriction or simple jaw mechanics. Snakes show diverse reproductive modes, including oviparity and viviparity, and occupy a broad range of terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
Snakes are seemingly simple in structure: a head attached to a long, unremarkable noodle. They do have some pretty cool features at the front end, with venomous fangs and the ability to stretch their mouths and swallow large ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 4, 2026
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Ripley, a medium-sized dog with a strong prey drive, curiously approached Brian, a large western diamondback rattlesnake, until she got a quick zap on the neck meant to simulate a venomous viper's bite.
Ecology
Aug 1, 2026
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If you look up invasive species in a textbook, there's a good chance you'll find a picture of a brown tree snake. Native to Australia and the South Pacific, the brown tree snake arrived on Guam sometime after World War II, ...
Ecology
Jul 24, 2026
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Scientists are calling for wildlife surveys to be conducted within hours of prescribed burns after new research revealed that evidence of animal deaths can disappear in less than two weeks, significantly underestimating the ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 20, 2026
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Within every muscle of every living species with a backbone, a protein called myosin tugs on a partner protein to generate a muscle contraction. This function, discovered in mammals a century ago, has been presumed by scientists ...
Evolution
Jul 14, 2026
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New research from Monash University has provided the first comprehensive assessment of the Pilbara barking gecko (Underwoodisaurus seorsus) and revealed the species is facing a heightened risk of extinction under a rapidly ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 6, 2026
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Arguably one of the most curious ancient human relatives is Homo floresiensis, a 3-foot-tall species that lived on the Indonesian island of Flores and has been nicknamed "hobbit" for its diminutive stature. Even though they ...
The fungus that causes sporotrichosis is typically transmitted among cats and results in serious lesions. Recently, it was found in the internal organs of wild animals. The study was published in March in the journal Mycopathologia.
Ecology
Jun 10, 2026
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New findings, published in Nature, help answer the riddle of how vertebrates evolved the diverse array of brain cells that distinguishes them from other animals. It appears that a dramatic expansion of the genetic toolkit ...
Evolution
Jun 10, 2026
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Snakes are threatened with extinction in many places around the globe. Disease, often caused by parasites or fungi, is thought to be one of the key factors alongside habitat destruction. Prominent among fungal diseases is ...
Ecology
May 26, 2026
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