Snakes at PetReptiles

Snakes

What is a Snake?

A snake is a "reptile without limbs and with the body greatly elongated". Some snakes do have traces of hind limbs, or spurs.However, there is no snake that uses these for walking. Snakes have no external ears, they hear by sensing vibration through a delicate bone structure. Snakes "smell" with a sensory organ on the roof of their mouths. Their tongue is used to pick up scents from the air, and bring them into their mouth.

Classification

Snakes fall into several families and subfamilies. Here at pet reptiles, we discuss in detail only those which are suitable as pets.

Superfamily Typhlopoidea are "worm snakes" or "blink snakes". These are small burrowing snakes, which are not commonly kept as pets.

Superfamily Booidea are medium and large snakes. Of these, the Family Boidae includes the Pythons and Boas which are sometimes suitable as pets.

Superfamily Colubroidea includes the greatest number of species. The Family Colubridae includes the Subfamily Colubrinae, with about 1500 species. This subfamily includes the corn and rat snakes, which are often chosen as pets.

Care of Snakes

The proper care of pets snakes varies with species. For a quick reference to the basics, see our snake care page. For details on particular species, take a look at the snake directory. To see some of the popular snake care products, visit the snake care products page.

For more information

Our snake directory lists those snakes that we have fact sheets on. You can also browse through our member's pets section, and find out what other people are doing to care for their pet snakes.