The question of whether snakes used to have legs is a controversial one. Some scientists believe that snakes evolved from lizards which do have legs. Others believe that snakes are a distinct group of reptiles that never had legs. There is still no clear consensus on this issue.
There is some evidence that snakes may have evolved from four-legged ancestors. Some fossil snakes have been found with small vestigial legs. These legs would have been too small to be of any use for locomotion but they may have been used for other purposes such as mating or for grasping prey.
There are also some anatomical similarities between snakes and lizards. Both groups have a skeletal structure that is well-suited for burrowing. And as mentioned before some fossil snakes have small vestigial legs.
However there are also some significant differences between snakes and lizards. One of the most obvious differences is that snakes lack eyelids while lizards have them. This difference is thought to be related to the different methods of locomotion used by these two groups. Snakes use their muscles to move their entire body forward in a undulating motion while lizards move their legs independently.
Another difference between snakes and lizards is that snakes have a single lung while lizards have two. This difference is thought to be an adaptation to the different methods of locomotion used by these two groups. Snakes use their muscles to move their entire body forward in a undulating motion while lizards move their legs independently.
So did snakes used to have legs? The answer is still not clear. However there is some evidence that they may have evolved from four-legged ancestors.
What is the smallest snake in the world?
Answer: The smallest snake in the world is the thread snake.
Adults of this species only grow to be about 4 inches long.
What is the largest snake in the world?
Answer: The largest snake in the world is the green anaconda.
Average adults of this species grow to be about 17 feet long.
What is the longest snake in the world?
Answer: The longest snake in the world is the reticulated python.
The longest recorded individual of this species measured 33 feet long.
How many bones are in a snake’s spine?
Answer: Snakes have about 200 bones in their spine.
How many ribs does a snake have?
Answer: Snakes have about 400 ribs.
How many scales does a snake have?
Answer: Snakes have about 2500 scales.
What do snakes use their tongue for?
Answer: Snakes use their tongue to sense their environment and to capture prey.
The tongue is also used to help swallow food.
How do snakes eat?
Answer: Snakes eat by unhinging their jaw and swallowing their prey whole.
What is the difference between a venomous snake and a poisonous snake?
Answer: A venomous snake is one that has venom glands and fangs and can inject venom into its prey.
A poisonous snake is one that produces toxins in its body that can make a person sick if they eat it.
How many snakes are venomous?
Answer: Out of the 3000+ species of snakes only about 600 are venomous.
What is the difference between a constrictor snake and a venomous snake?
Answer: A constrictor snake is one that uses its body to kill its prey by wrapping around it and squeezing it until it stops breathing.
A venomous snake is one that has venom glands and fangs and can inject venom into its prey.
What are the three main families of snakes?
Answer: The three main families of snakes are boas pythons and vipers.
What is the difference between a boa and a python?
Answer: Boas and pythons are both constrictor snakes but boas tend to be shorter and thicker than pythons.
Pythons also have heat-sensing pits on their face that boas do not have.
What is the difference between a viper and a cobra?
Answer: Both vipers and cobras are venomous snakes but vipers have fangs that are hollow and can inject venom while cobras have fangs that are solid and cannot inject venom.
How do scientists classify snakes?
Answer: Scientists classify snakes by their family genus and species.
