00:00This black snake with a menacing look won't do you any harm. It doesn't have a tail.
00:06You may have mistakenly thought that this creature was just a black mamba, but it's just an harmless color.
00:13There is a characteristic sign that can help you determine if a snake is really dangerous.
00:19Species without tails don't have a venom distribution mechanism.
00:23Therefore, their bites won't do you much harm.
00:27But if you see a snake with tails, then you are really in danger.
00:33If you come across a snake, it is better to leave the area and ask for help from a fauna professional to identify the reptile.
00:40Here are some tips to help you distinguish the two types.
00:43Observe their behavior, their habits of nesting and their habitats.
00:48Some snakes can shake their tails as a warning.
00:51In addition, venomous snakes usually have triangular heads compared to non-venomous snakes with rounded heads.
01:04It's time for a little optical illusion. Can you spot a snake here?
01:08You'd better be careful because a boomslang is hiding in this tree.
01:12This insatiable reptile has mastered the art of camouflage and he likes to pretend to be a branch.
01:18In addition, boomslangs may not have the best odor, but they compensate for this by their ability to detect chemical compounds in the air.
01:27By using their tongue, they gather smell molecules and press them against the sensory receptors of their mouths.
01:34This snake is venomous. Just look at its claws.
01:38However, when it doesn't intend to use it, the snake just has to carefully fold its claws back.
01:48Boomslang snakes and humans have something in common.
01:51Both have a quantity of accessories made of keratin in their bodies.
01:55Humans' nails and hair are made of keratin and the boomslang is also made of it.
02:01The characteristic sound produced by these sinuous creatures is similar to the sound that we humans can make when we rub our nails against each other.
02:10But these reptiles do it extremely fast, so that it sounds almost like a whistle.
02:17Every time these snakes moan, they add a new segment to their sonnets.
02:22But it's not as if the older a snake was, the more segments it would have.
02:26Their sonnets can wear out or break, just like our nails.
02:30Boomslangs, as well as many other snakes, have an internal ear with a unique structure that does not include a tympanum.
02:37This means that they cannot capture the sounds of the air as we do.
02:41Instead, their internal ear is connected to their jaw, and they use this mechanism to feel the vibrations.
02:49Biologists are still trying to determine whether these snakes detect changes in environmental pressure or mechanical vibrations in their bodies.
03:00They are also quite selective eaters.
03:03Boomslang snakes do not eat only when they are hungry, and adults usually wait about two weeks between each meal.
03:10The time they wait can vary depending on the frugality of their last meal.
03:14These sneaky hunters usually hunt mice, rats, squirrels and rabbits.
03:20But they will not refuse a small bird if they manage to catch one.
03:25Snakes have juvenile sonnets.
03:28However, they tend to have a more robust appetite, sometimes eating up to once a week.
03:36Now, look at their huge jaws.
03:39They are the same as hypodermic needles, hollow and sharp, allowing them to inject their venom.
03:45What is very practical is that these jaws are articulated and lie flat against the upper jaw of the snake when its mouth is closed,
03:53so as not to spread perpendicularly only when it strikes.
03:58Mokasindo, as they are called, owe this name to the white color inside their mouths, which they exhibit when they feel threatened.
04:07These semi-aquatic snakes move effortlessly both in water and on land, which is also why they have this nickname.
04:15With thermosensitive faucets nestled between their eyes and nostrils,
04:19they have an extraordinary ability to detect the smallest variations in temperature and focus precisely on their potential prey.
04:28It is rare for Mokasindo to attack humans.
04:31They rather reserve their venom to respond to a provocation.
04:35Here is some advice on how to distinguish non-venomous water snakes from their dangerous counterparts.
04:40While water snakes display an elongated silhouette, Mokasindo have a heavier and more robust presence.
04:47Another difference is that water snakes have elongated tails and heads and are proportioned to their neck,
04:53unlike the large and thick head of a Mokasin.
04:56The pupils of water snakes are round and differ from vertical pupils, similar to those of cats, Mokasins.
05:04In addition, non-venomous snakes do not have the characteristic facial faucets of vipers that Mokasindos have.
05:12When they feel in danger, non-venomous water snakes resort to an ingenious tactic to imitate their venomous cousins.
05:19By flattening their bodies and heads, they aspire to appear more massive, thus resembling Mokasindos.
05:26However, a keen eye can tell the difference.
05:30Here, the flattened head of the water snake takes a triangular shape, distinct from the robust and thick head of a Mokasin.
05:41Here is another venomous star among all, the copper snake.
05:45Their muscles recall the smell of cucumber, and their venom is quite particular too.
05:50Would you be in trouble if this snake bit you?
05:53Yes, absolutely. Does this venom help to cure deadly infections?
05:57Well, in a way, it is not a totally proven fact at the moment.
06:02But researchers have been testing this theory for a long time, and they have noticed that the venom of the copper snake could,
06:09if it were not to cure serious conditions, slow down their progression.
06:13However, they are the most venomous water snakes of all the snakes of the United States,
06:18although antivenin for water snakes is not always necessary.
06:22The copper snakes are known for their unaggressive nature, because they are shy and discreet creatures.
06:28They represent less than 1% of snake bites in America.
06:32Their venom is a powerful neurotoxin that paralyzes the nerves, and because of their small teeth,
06:37they have to chew their prey to inject the venom.
06:40When they feel threatened, the copper snake rolls up the end of its tail to deceive its attacker on the location of its head.
06:49The mysterious and fascinating black mamba made its kingdom of the rocky savannah and wandered near the thermal springs.
06:57With a range of colors ranging from gray to dark brown, it owes its name to the dark interior of its mouth.
07:03Black mambas are among the fastest snakes in the world, reaching speeds of 15 to 20 km per hour on a flat surface.
07:12Despite its terrible reputation, unprovoked attacks on humans remain to be proven,
07:17and this snake is actually responsible for a small number of deadly incidents each year.
07:23The vipers of the pyramids have the fascinating ability to produce a sound that gives goosebumps.
07:30Accompanied by an impressive demonstration, the unique shape of its scales allows it to create a whistling or a prolonged grunting,
07:38while it moves in a particularly terrifying way.
07:42These sounds serve as a clear warning to anyone who would be in immediate proximity to the snake.
07:49Despite the many victims that can be imputed to it, without any treatment,
07:53the bites of the vipers of the pyramids are only deadly in less than 10% of cases.
07:58This strongly contrasts with the royal cobra and the black mamba, whose untreated bites are much more deadly.
08:04The vipers of the pyramids are known for their extreme aggressiveness and their lightning strikes,
08:09which make some of the snakes the most alive and the most unpredictable in the world.
08:16When you walk in nature, remember not to disturb the snakes you meet there, even if they no longer seem completely alive to you.
08:24Some rusted snakes act like loposomes and can attack if they are disturbed.
08:29If you see one, give it some space.
08:32As far as snakes are concerned, they are generally quite shy and will not bother you unless you feel threatened.
08:39Trying to catch or hit a snake is a must, because that is when most bites occur.
08:46And do not let yourself be abused by their size, even the smallest snakes can be dangerous.
08:51Thus, baby brown snakes even nest with venom, so it is preferable to admire them from a distance.
08:58Every year, more than 7,000 Americans are victims of snake bites,
09:03often due to ill-intentioned attempts to manipulate or fight them.
09:07It is crucial not to do anything about it and to seek emergency medical help in the event of a bite.
09:13Understanding how to differentiate venomous snakes from non-venomous snakes is the key to evaluating potential risks.
09:20Contact a professional if you are not sure of the exact nature of a snake
09:25and never fully handle one, even if it seems harmless.
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