Reptile Myths To Be Aware Of

The Most Common Myth I See Frequently

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Incorrect Myths:

  • Snakes dislocate their jaws when eating. (This is a myth.)
  • Snakes will often chase you. (This is a myth.)
  • Rattlesnakes are poisonous. (This is a myth.)
  • Baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adult rattlesnakes because they can not control their venom. (This is a myth.)
  • You can always tell a rattlesnake's age accurately by the number of rattles on it's tail. (This is a myth.)
  • Crocodiles can run very fast on land compared to their swimming. (This is a myth.)
  • Venomous snakes are keen to bite. (This is a myth.)

Actual Info:

The bottom part of reptile skulls are not connected like mammal skulls. They are instead attached by a ligament, meaning it can stretch much easier. Did you know that some snakes eating their food is equivalent in proportion to their head as a human eating a whole watermelon?

Often, when you encounter a snake, the snake is more scared of you than you are of it. Because of this both you and the snake are trying to find quickest escape route, which may be the same path. The only exception to this is the Bushmaster.

Rattlesnakes are venomous. Check out the link at the top of the page for more information.

Baby rattlesnakes can control their venom well. If anything baby rattlesnakes are less dangerous due to their lower venom yeilds. That being said, do not interact with rattlesnakes unless you are accompanied by an expert.

While rattlesnakes gain a section of their rattle each shed, these rattles sometimes break off. This often makes you guess the rattlesnake's age as lower that it actually is.

Crocodiles can run only around 11mph or 17kph on land. And are often the same speed on water as on land.

Often snakes will do many defense mechanisms before biting as a last resort. They often will try to seeam threatening by smooshing thier head and rattleing their tails. They most often try to hide or run away from you though.