Mr. Roger Clay, a biologist with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provided a "Snake" presentation in the Pelican's Nest Science Lab for K-1 students.  Students learned about different snake species, their shape, color, and behavior.  Mr. Clay brought a black indigo and a grey rat snake so students could observe live specimens.  Our young scientists had an opportunity to touch the dry and shiny scales of the black indigo snake much to their delight!  Some classes will exchange Q & A via email with Mr. Clay, draw pictures, or compile thank you letters.  Mrs. Normand has reported the snake books in the library are 'slithering off the shelves' already! 

The following are some questions the children emailed Mr. Clay and his answers.  Read them and YOU may learn something, too!

Mr. Clay,

          We loved listening about snakes.  Here are some more questions we have.

1. How can you tell the difference between a girl and boy snake?-Davis

Believe it or not snakes have a tail-even though they look all tail. Tails on boy snake are generally longer and thinner than the tails on the girl snakes. However, on some snakes you might not be able to tell the difference.

2. What kind of snakes live in Mexico?- Kenleigh

Many snakes there are related to snakes we have here. Mexico has garter snakes, rattlesnakes, and coral snakes just like us!

3.  What kind of snakes live in water?-Ian and Keaton

Around here many snakes like to live in and around water since there's lots of food available and the water gives the snakes a place to hide. The venomous cottonmouth likes water. There are a group of snakes commonly called "watersnakes" that are obviously found around water. Locally these include the banded watersnake, green watersnake, brown watersnake, and gulf saltmarsh snake. Away from here, there are a group of snakes called seasnakes that live in the Indian Ocean. They are venomous snakes.

5.  What kind of snakes live in Africa?-James
Most snakes in Africa, like in North America, are harmless but Africa has some famous venomous snakes like the black mamba, cobra, and gaboon viper.

6. How did Pit vipers get their name?-Keaton

"Viper" is a name used for snakes that have hollow fangs that inject venom. "Pit" refers to the heat sensing organ on either side of the head. Our pit vipers include the cottonmouth, copperhead, and rattlesnakes.

7.  What kind of snakes live in the woods?-Bry-Bry

Many snakes live in the woods as there is abundant food and lots of hiding places. Large snakes, such as the pine snake I brought, live in the pine woods and very small snakes like red-bellied snakes live in the woods as well.

8. How many babies does a snake have?-Shannon

That depends on the kind of snake of course and the number varies. Even the same snake may have different numbers of babies. For instance, the black racer which is one of our more common snakes may lay between 4 and 36 eggs! Ten to fifteen babies is probably most common for most snakes for our larger snakes. Smaller snakes generally have fewer babies.

9. How did the king snake get his name?-Ian

They got that name from the fact that they like to eat other snakes. They are the "kings" of the snakes. They can even eat the venomous rattlesnake since the venom does harm the kingsnake.

Thanks for the great questions and I certainly enjoyed talking to you. Maybe you learned a thing or two or three!!  Hope to get to talk to you about frogs soon.