New research reveals that three venomous snake species—including one of the most venomous snakes in the world—are even worse than we thought. As if mambas—large, highly venomous arboreal snakes in sub-Saharan Africa—weren’t bad enough, researchers have discovered that the venoms of three mamba species have a nasty one-two-punch attack that explains why antivenoms sometimes don’t […]
Freaky Jurassic Reptile Is a Weird Mix of Snake and Lizard
When paleontologists only have so many clues to infer a fossil’s original form, it’s all too easy to make honest mistakes. Sometimes, supposedly reasonable assumptions set researchers on the wrong path—as demonstrated by a “rediscovered” creature sporting an unlikely mix of reptilian features. A Nature paper published today introduced to the world Breugnathair elgolensis, a […]
Have You Seen This Rare Rainbow Snake? Florida Wants to Know
As their name suggests, rainbow snakes sport striking, iridescent scales that turn a glossy blue in the Sun. But these beautiful creatures haven’t been seen since 2020, so Florida officials are recruiting the public to help confirm they’re alive and well. In a release published August 18, Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced […]
Robo-Bunnies Are the Latest Weapon Against Florida’s Invasive Pythons
Invasive Burmese pythons are a scourge upon South Florida. These massive snakes are one of the region’s most pernicious pests, posing a significant risk to local biodiversity as they chow down on native wildlife. Burmese pythons were introduced to Florida through the exotic pet trade in the 1970s and are now among the state’s top […]
Scientists Discover Secret Weapon That Allows Pythons to Digest Bones
Pythons are notorious for their eating habits. After suffocating their prey with their lithe bodies, these large snakes swallow the animal whole. Now, researchers have shed new light on the cellular mechanisms that allow them to digest entire skeletons. The study, presented July 9 at the Society for Experimental Biology Annual Conference in Belgium and […]
Man Bitten by 200 Snakes Helps Scientists Create a Super Antivenom
There really is a purpose for everyone out there. Scientists seem to have developed the most broadly effective snake antivenom seen yet—an antivenom partly derived from the antibodies of a man bitten by snakes hundreds of times. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health and the company Centivax detailed their work in a study published […]
Australian Man Horrified to Discover 102 Snakes Living in His Yard
An Australian man’s recent discovery of snakes in his backyard turned out to be more than he bargained for. Local animal wranglers reported retrieving over 100 venomous red-bellied black snakes from the man’s premises. Cory Kerewaro, owner of Reptile Relocation Sydney, detailed the scaly scary tale on his company’s Facebook page earlier this week. According […]