The difference between snake, snake, and viper

snake

The terms of csnake, viper and snake they are not synonymous. However, they are used interchangeably to refer to a single animal, however there are differences between them. For this reason we are going to explain what is the diferencia between snake, snake, and viper so that each animal can be designated by its correct name.

All the snakes are a category of reptiles that are characterized by the absence of legs and an elongated and normally cylindrical body covered with scales.

All the snakes They are a family of snakes that contains about 1.800 species. Its size ranges between 20 and 30 centimeters. They are characterized by a head covered with scales wide and normally live on land. There are aquatic, amphibian and burrowing species.

All the vipers They are a family of snakes, with rattlesnakes. They are characterized by the fact of being toxic and having long fangs sharp. They have a triangular head and are quick to get into an attack position in front of their prey.

In general, diferencia it is that snakes and vipers are two types of snakes, since it is a family of this animal. But the vipers They are not snakes, and no other snake can be called viper or snake.

Difference between snake and snake 

Python

Snakes belong to the Colubrid family. Its size can range between 20 and 30 centimeters. It must be said that within this family we can find totally harmless snakes, as well as other poisonous ones. Snakes usually have larger sizes. For example, in the so-called 'cat's eye snake' we will find that it measures about 70 centimeters. While the 'royal snake' can reach two meters in length.

But when we talk about differences between snake and snakeYou have to be practical: Snakes are a suborder or subgenus of the animal kingdom, while snakes are just one of the many families that make up this genus. For this reason, we can say that snakes are snakes but that the latter cannot be called snakes, because in turn we would be talking about very diverse families. 

Difference between viper and snake

Difference between viper and snake

As we have mentioned, it is common for us to meet harmless snakes, but there are some species that are poisonous. Perhaps less, but it does not hurt to know. Of course, one of the big differences with snakes is that they are poisonous. People say that its poison is one of the most powerful, so much so that during the Punic Wars they were thrown at enemy ships.

In addition to the venom, they also have a pair of fangs (which snakes do not have) that are quite long, which are retracted in the palate area when the mouth is closed. Its head is triangular and wide and with a vertical pupil, compared to the circular one that snakes usually have.

Snakes characteristics

Aquatic Viper snake

Snakes are a family that includes more than 1800 species. Regarding their main characteristics, it must be said that they have a head covered by quite large scales. Both the scales that cover the dorsal or lateral area of ​​the body, form a kind of rhomboid piece.

Snakes are usually diurnal, so his eyes are very well developed. Likewise, they have a wide pupil, which is generally circular. As for their size, they are usually around 20 or 30 centimeters long. Although, as there is no middle ground in these animals, you can also find snakes of almost 3 meters, for example, the 'tiger or flying snake' that lives in South America. The vast majority of them are land, but of course, there are exceptions and we can find some water snakes. For example, in Spain we have the 'viperine snake' and the 'collared snake'. The latter has an orange color but is larger than the first that we have mentioned.

Vipers characteristics

Viper snake

Vipers are one of the most dangerous animals. They are spread all over the world. Although it is said that in Europe it is the only reptile that poisonous. But if this were not enough, every time we find a greater number of them, due, in a certain way, to the abandonment and desolation of the fields.

It has a head in the shape of a triangle and the rest of the body is usually not very long. Even so, they can reach 75 centimeters in length. They have vertical pupils, as we can see in cats. In his mouth he has a pair of fangs that are quite dangerous. With the mouth closed, they withdraw, but when they open it they come out to the light to be able to drive them into their victim. They will inject a poison that passes through a kind of canal, located inside the teeth. This poison is deadly, affecting both blood and tissues..

Vipers feed on moles, as well as lizards. Although sometimes it is not ruled out that they can attack other animals of greater size. But in this case, they have to be provoked to react that way. It is said that all over the world there are 99 species of vipers. Among them we can highlight the 'Gabon viper' or the 'Asp viper' that we will find in Spain, as well as the 'snout viper' and the 'Seoane viper'. Of all the latter mentioned, the Asp is the most poisonous.

Despite all this, it is not easy to be bitten by a viper. More than anything, because as we mentioned before, it only reacts if it is provoked. Since he usually runs away when he notices that something is approaching him.

Snakes characteristics

Cat's eye snake

Like its companions, it is true that depending on one species or another of snakes they can also have several characteristics. The origins of snakes They are not clear, since there are many theories that affirm that they would derive from lizards. Some of them can give poisonous bites like the cobra, while others like the pythons will kill their prey through constriction. Which is none other than a strangulation method.

As we are seeing, there is no standard size either. In this case, we can find snakes of more than five meters long as it happens with the 'king cobra'. Though the 'reticulated python' exceeds 10 meters in length. The skin is made up of scales and sheds periodically, to get rid of certain parasites.

Both their hearing and vision are quite limited, although they do perceive heat and are also sensitive to vibrations that are unleashed on the ground. Hence they know when something or someone is approaching.

Snakes are carnivorous, feeding on rodents, birds, insects and even other reptiles. Despite having a different variety of teeth depending on the species, snakes do not usually chew food. Simply the teeth are responsible for retaining the prey. When it is large enough, the snake can go weeks without tasting food. They are oviparous and less the boa that is ovoviviparous, that is to say, the snake lays the eggs but these remain inside the body until the embryo develops.


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