A controversial view, I know, but I was wandering around the taxonomy lab and saw this snake identification poster:
They’re all just squiggles with patterned markings! Spiders are so much more interesting.
You can fire back, herpetologists.
Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
Some are venomous. Knowing the venomous snakes in you area is interesting and practical.
I envy the USA for the number of snakes you have. We only have three species in CZ, and only one of those lives around here (Vipera berus). I personally think that spiders are not that interesting to look at – even a young person with good eyes often needs a microscope to appreciate them in any detail, whereas snakes are pretty, like luxurious ribbons from scaly leather.
@1 cheerfulcharlie
Sure. But that poster does not have clear visual segregation of snakes by venom or by geography.
Also, I expected sidewinders to stand out by having more prominent squiggles.
noncheerful charly – you don’t even get grass snakes there?
Ringneck snakes are not boring. Among the most beautifully colored snakes in the world. Hognose snakes have antics. It’s fun to watch a ribbon snake eat fish out of a water bowl or caught frogs.
Eight legs and multiple eyes, big whoop. 🕷️
@1 cheerfulcharlie
I thought that technically all snakes are venomous just only some are so venomous that humans should be worried
foolishleader, if by ‘technically’ you mean not really, then sure.
It’s a definitional thing.
cf. https://www.snakeoutbrisbane.com.au/news/snakes-on-the-brain-essays-on-snakes-science-and-society-essay-3-are-all-snakes-venomous-the-toxicofera-hypothesis-and-how-we-define-venoms/
The Indian Cobra is quite charming.
*scrolls to the end with a pic of one peeking out the top of a bush* Noope.
The fangs in snakes are sometimes arranged so that only small prey are in danger of getting the venom treatment (if I can trust memory). And the toxicity of snake venom varies wildly.
Sweden has two snakes, the adder (not considered deadly for humans, even if you get sick) and another ‘snok’ which is not considered dangerous. The zigzag patterns of the adder varies in contrast so you may sometimes confuse the two species. We also have a rare legless lizard.
Personally I think evolution should have invented a way to fold the legs into the body instead of getting rid of them. Reptiles that can grip things would have that cool Jurassic park vibe.
I do not need a poster to know which spiders are venomous. They all are.
Since Ireland lacks snakes I think we should prank them by introducing legless lizards that only eats insects. Or scary-looking critters that can digest peat. They would not compete with local wildlife but scare the beejesus out of the tourists.
Well, in Australia both snakes and spiders can kill you, so that doesn’t help…
Well I like both and refuse to be drawn into the spider/snake dichotomy!
@10 birgerjohansson
The slow worm is, incidentally, more closely related to snakes than to true lizards.
@ biergerjohanson
When I was young in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a block from my house we had “the gulley”. Just that with a little stream and lots of ring neck snakes. Cute little snakes about a foot long at most. Jet black with little red rings around their necks. Oklahoma gets snow and cold weather so ring necks could survive in Ireland. Ireland needs snacks! We need a project to smuggle ring necks into Ireland.
@16 cheerfulcharlie
Sure, bringing snakes to a previously snake-free Island has worked so well for Americans before.
Alas, there are no veggie snakes. Vegetarian or insectivore big lizards might work for introduction. I think there is a species of (mostly) non-carnivorous spiders.
chrislawson @14
Yeah, I don’t mind the flatties I see around my house. I’ve seen some beautiful spiders in Florida that compete with the ringneck. And jumping spiders are cute. They have antics too.
PZ did pretty much say “Snakes are boring. Fight me!”
cheerfulcharlie @16
The thing about ringnecks is the coloration along their underside. Stunning!
The names printed on that poster are kinda fuzzy, but apparently there is a snake called “maaaaaaaaaaaugh!”.
Seems about right to me.
Le Chifforobe @20: Eastern massasauga
It’s got a lot of nicknames that are easier to spell but not very distinctive.