Common snake myths debunked: they’re not always aggressive and don’t dislocate their jaws

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and most see snakes as hideous creatures that should be feared and stamped out. But that’s because they’ve gotten a bad rap through legends and myths that paint these slithering reptiles as fearsome and aggressive.

While some are more apt to strike than others, this typically happens because they are trying to defend themselves. These solitary creatures generally just want to be left alone to go about their business.

What you thought you knew about snakes…

There are quite a number of myths about snakes some of them fun, others just downright absurd. Mainly they come from lack of firsthand knowledge and proper observation of these reptiles that serve a very important role in the ecosystem helping keep populations of other creatures in check.

First off, contrary to popular belief by many, snakes are not wet and slimy. This idea comes from the fact that some species have incredibly shiny scales, that are really just very smooth and dry.

Secondly, snakes don’t actually unhinge or dislocate their jaws to swallow their prey. In reality, their upper and lower jaws are split and the bottom part is not fused to the cranium. Furthermore, they are joined by ligaments that can stretch, some by unfathomable amounts.

Another common misconception is that all snakes are venomous. There are generally two types of snakes, nonvenomous and venomous, and among the latter some can pack quite a punch. However, of the 7,000 to 8,000 snake bites that occur each year in the United States, only about five people die according to the CDC.

That brings us to another common myth, that you can identify a venomous snake by certain physical characteristics like a triangular head and cat-like pupils (slitted eyes) among others. The only real way to identify them with certainty is by the scales on their underbelly near the tail.

But don’t go looking and just keep your distance, lest you want an unpleasant encounter. Best to check with the local wildlife department to check which species you should be on the lookout for in the area before you head out into the countryside.

There is also the myth that in particular cottonmouth snakes, endemic to the southeast of the US, will chase you down. There is no evidence of this happening. In fact, snakes will sometimes charge at people only because the person is standing in the way of their escape route.

And no, they do not hunt in pairs or packs. Quite the contrary, they stick to themselves except when mating, as they are competing for the same prey. Larger ones will even kill smaller ones on occasion.

Fun and absurd snake myths

Finally, on a more humorous note, there are some really absurd and fun myths about snakes.

In rural Australia, a popular belief is that a snake’s head will stay alive until sundown. This is credited with the fact that after the head is decapitated, a snake’s body will continue to writhe for some time. Note though, that you should never try to pick up a dead snake, it may only appear to be so.

Another fun one is that snakes will drink milk from cows’ udders, so leaving a bowl of milk out will attract them. This comes down to people seeing snakes enter barns where cows are kept. Really, they are just looking for mice and other prey that may be roaming about with the benefit that the structure provides shelter from the elements.

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