Tell me about fangs!
Most people are aware that many snakes have fangs which are involved in the delivery of venom. What is not well understood is how snake fangs actually work. This post is “fangs 101” providing a…
November 2015 Brisbane Snake Activity
November has seen in increase in snake sightings and callouts for our Brisbane and Gold Coast snake catchers. Carpet python sightings while still a commonly encountered snake in November are starting to be matched by…
October 2015 Brisbane Snake Activity
October has been a busy month with an increase in snake sightings across greater Brisbane. The most commonly sighted snake this month was the carpet python with the animals now done with brumation and moving…
Hibernation? Nope, Brumation!
With snakes beginning to move around due to the increased temperatures many people ask me questions regarding snake hibernation and are astonished when I explain that snakes don’t actually hibernate. Hibernation refers to the way…
How do snakes move?
At first glance snakes look rather disadvantaged in the locomotion department, laking limbs or other appendages with which to propel their cylindrical bodies. That said, many snakes are fast movers, efficient climbers, excellent swimmers, adept…
How Do Snakes Sense The World Around Them?
Humans tend to anthropomorphise other animals, thinking of their interactions, failings and abilities in a human context. While this can often make it easy for us to conceptualize complex ecological processes, it regularly fails us…
How does digestion work in snakes?
Snakes can fast for a number of months after consuming a large meal. Recent research looking at physiological effects of feeding in Indian Pythons (Python molorus) shows the snakes organs undergo substantial changes that remain…
How do snakes feed?
Being limbless offers snakes a number of advantages but ease of feeding is not one of them! A snakes body plan just doesn’t equip them with the necessary tools to effectively tear prey items into…
It was 20 foot! So REALLY, how big are Queensland’s ‘deadly dozen’?
Snake Sizes Strike up a conversation about snakes with any bloke at a rural Queensland pub and more than likely you will be regaled with horror stories of 6mtr Taipans and 8mtr King Browns! Claims…
Envenomation rates for brisbane snakes
At the mention of snakes many people envision a mindless killing machine hell bent on biting them for the mere sake of it! This couldn’t be further from the truth. Snakes are incredibly secretive animals…