Photo:  Mobius the educational Corn Snake with myself.

Today is World Snake Day which is a day to celebrate the amazing creatures that are snakes.

There is much unfounded fear and hatred of Snakes which is why days like today are so important. 

There are over 3000 Snake species in the world that live on all continents except Antarctica and are found as Sea Snakes in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. 

The Snake fossil record stretches back to around 140 million years ago although modern Snakes we see today go back to around 66 million years ago. 

The largest Snakes are the Reticulated Python at 23 ft (7m) and the smallest is the Threadsnake at 4 in (10cm).

Snakes have been targeted unfairly through fear by humans who kill them out of misguided education or through greed via reptile smuggling. 

​Happy Snake Day 

Below are some fascinating facts on Snakes:

​www.humanesociety.org/animals/snakes
​
defenders.org/wildlife/snakes-and-lizards


KIDS CORNER

www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/snake.html

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf2qpXb81lA

By Brendon Crook

Photo: Scalloped Hammerhead Shark -- Photo by Kris Mikael Krister (Wikipedia Commons License).

Today is Shark awareness day which seeks to promote Sharks in a more positive light than they have been getting for many years.

Many species of Shark are close to extinction or at least well on the way to it due to over fishing and the deliberate killing of them via shark nets and drums which also end up killing a lot of other marine life. 

Sharks are incredible creatures with fossil records stretching back to over 400 million years with little change. 

Sharks have amazing senses with some species being able to detect one part blood to a million parts seawater and are also able to detect electromagnetic fields to find prey. 

Shark lifespans can vary greatly with most species living between 20 - 30 years. Whale Sharks can live up to 100 years and the Greenland Shark can live well over 200 years.

Sharks vary greatly in size from the Dwarf Lantern Shark at around 6 inches long to the Whale Shark which can grow to 60 ft long. 

For more information on Sharks please see the links below:

www.wwf.org.uk/learn/fascinating-facts/sharks

oceantoday.noaa.gov/endoceansharks/

KIDS CORNER

www.weareteachers.com/facts-about-sharks/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl9qJMpoYqs


​By Brendon Crook