For those of you who aren't so into the reptiles and the creepy-crawlies, today's not your day because Feb. 1 is National Serpent Day. Snakes come in many shapes and sizes, and range from fun and friendly to extremely deadly. It's no wonder that ophidiophobia, the fear of snakes, is the second-most common phobia in the world, according to About Health. However, these are some seriously fascinating creatures, and today is the day to learn a little more about them.
The smallest snake in the world is the Barbados threadsnake. It's very skinny and measures up to only about 4 inches.
The longest is the reticulated python - don't get cozy to one of those - and the heaviest snake in the world is the green anaconda.
Only one-eighth of the world's snakes are known to be venomous, says National Day Calendar, but that's still a lot of venom! Snakes also have upper and lower jaws that separate completely and stretch to three times the width of the snake so they can eat their prey whole. Delicious!
Snakes shed their skins three times yearly, says Live Science, and they have a very slow metabolism, meaning they can go a very long time without eating. The King Cobra can go months without a morsel of food!
Many humans keep snakes as pets. The most common species of snakes to be domesticated are Corn Snakes, California Kingsnakes, Rosy Boas, Gopher Snakes, and Ball Pythons, says Reptiles Magazine. If you're looking for a pet that's pretty low-maintenance and definitely more shocking than a puppy or a rabbit, give snakes a chance. Head to your local pet store and see who's slithering around!
