YELLOW-BELLIED SEA SNAKE (Pelagic Sea Snake): Warning

 Diving deep into the ocean waters, Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake can stay underwater for about three hours.  She can do this because of her aquatic lung which stretches the length of her body.  The muscles of her lung keep pumping air through her body on her dives.

            Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake is the most recognized of Marine Snakes in the world.  One reason is her distinctive colors of bright yellow and blue-black.  These colors warn Sharks and others that She is venomous.  One bite from Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake will bring death, for her venom is the most powerful in the world.

            Also called Pelagic Sea Snake, Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake is at home in the open sea.  She is the most widespread of Snakes living in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.  Well-equipped for a marine life, Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake has glands to rid her body of salt under her tongue.  Moreover, She also gives birth at sea to live young.

            Drifting together on the oceans’ currents, thousands of Yellow-Bellied Sea Snakes congregate at sea forming a huge slick (raft).  No one is sure why They do this.  Some think that it is a way to attract Fish, who mistake the slick for seaweed.  This is probably one way that Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake and her friends hunt for Fish.

            With her bright colors and bold patterns, Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake warns others that death is near.  Heeding her messages, divers and others remain cautious around Her.  However unwary Fish mistake her slick for shelter, not noticing the danger.  Heed the warnings of Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake and be safe.  Do not be oblivious like some Fish, and get killed.

TAIPAN FAMILY: Building a Reputation

            Members of the Taipan Family possess the most toxic venom of the land Snakes.  Their name “Taipan” comes from the myth of Wik-Mungkan Aboriginal People (of Australia) about a colorful serpent that was stretched across the sky like a rainbow.  These Snakes may not be rainbow colored but They do change their colors according to the seasons.  Endemic to Australia and Papua New Guinea, Taipans have earned their reputation for being dangerous from their deadly and swift attacks.

            Taipans (Inland Taipan (also known as “Fierce Snake”), Coastal Taipan, and Central Ranges Taipan) are mammal hunting specialists.  Striking fast and accurately, They avoid injury to Themselves.  Taipans, then, release their struggling victims, and later track down the dying Rats for a meal.

            Although the venom of Taipans is toxic, deaths from bites from these Snakes are rare.  Less toxic Snakes such as Black Mamba of Africa account for more deaths.  What makes this more noticeable is that Taipans hunt for Rats in human settlements.  They can be found slithering through trash piles looking for these Rodents.  Reasons for lower statistics of deaths by Taipans are complex.  One is that Taipans will usually retreat when sensing humans nearby.  Another is that Australians are aware of this deadly Snake when walking about in the Bush.

            Taipans demonstrate the power of building a good reputation.  Because of the toxicity of her venom, Inland Taipan is known as “Fierce Snake”.  Also, Taipans are greatly feared by people because of their deadly strike.  However, She and the Others do good things for humans by specializing in hunting “plague” (Norway) Rats.  Furthermore overlooked by humans is the ability of these Snakes to rid their towns of Rats.  Be careful of what reputation you build.  Remember that the good you do could be overlooked.  

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VINE SNAKE FAMILIES: Detection

Oxybelis fulgidus

Because of convergent evolution, there are two families of Vine Snakes.  Each fills the same ecological niche in different parts of the world.  The Oxybelis Family lives in Central and South America.  Meanwhile the Ahaetulla Family can be found in Asia and Pacific Islands.

            Resembling tree vines, Vine Snakes are well-suited for life amongst the trees.  With their pointed heads and extremely thin bodies, these Snakes are well-camouflaged in the forest canopy.  Staying on a high branch, They look down for unwary lizards.  Spying one, a Vine Snake will “yo-yo” down and stab their prey with venom.  Then half-way in mid-air, They raise their victim off the ground back to their tree branch.  As slow moving Snakes, Vines Snakes prefer camouflage and ambush hunting.

            Unlike other Snakes, Vine Snakes do not rely on movement to detect prey.  Instead They use their binocular vision to know the animal’s size and shape.  Like humans, Vine Snakes have eyes that function independently of each other.  Of the world’s snakes, They have the sharpest eyesight.

            Detection is what Vine Snakes do best.  With their eyes acting as binoculars, They can see anything that looks faint in the forest.  Vine Snakes rarely leave their trees to hunt on the ground, but instead They act as yo-yos, gliding up and down to their victims.  Learn from Vine Snakes how to use your senses to be a detective like Sherlock Holmes.  Develop you own powers of reasoning and keen eyesight.

BRAHMINY BLIND SNAKE (FLOWERPOT SNAKE): Power of Self

The most widespread of all the Snake species is the tiny Brahminy Blind Snake.  Since She is the size of a piece of spaghetti, Brahminy Blind Snake is often overlooked by many people.  A native of Southeast Asia, She is often mistaken for a Worm.  Because She lives in flowerpots, this earned her the name “Flowerpot Snake”.  Moreover, this tiny primitive Snake often finds her way into horticultural greenhouses by mistake through flowerpots.  But wherever Brahminy Blinds Snake finds Herself, She is welcomed because She eats insect larvae plaguing gardeners.

            What makes Brahminy Blind Snake unique amongst Snakes is how She breeds.  Scientists have documented that She is a unisexual Snake.  A consummate colonizer, Brahminy Blind Snake breeds through parthenogenesis.  When She reaches maturity, She lays eggs without any help from a Male.

            Brahminy Blind Snake aptly displays the power of Self.  She does not need another to complete Her.  In her travels, Brahminy Blind Snake is the power of One.  Learn from Her how to be complete, and come into your own power.

BLIND SNAKE FAMILY: Connect to the Deep Ancestors

Often mistaken for Worms, Blind Snakes (Scolecophidia) are classified separately from the more advanced Snakes (Alethinophidia).  This is because many scientists consider Them to be more primitive than Boas and Pythons.  In addition, Blind Snakes’ pelvic girdles and small leg spurs hark back to early Snakes.  These relatively unknown and poorly understood Snakes comprise about ten percent of the world’s Snake population.  Because of their small size and secretive lives, Blind Snakes are often overlooked by most people.     

The Blind Snake Family includes Early Blind Snakes (Anomalepididae), Thread Snakes (Leptotyphlopidae) and Worm Snakes (Typhlopidae).  Early Blind Snakes are found in Central and South America.  Using their enlarged rostral scale, They excavate the soil looking for tasty Termites.  Living secretive lives, these burrowing Snakes usually reside in the nests of Ants. Found worldwide, Worm Snakes are more well-known to people.  The largest of the Blind Snakes is a Worm Snake - Schlegel’s Beaked Blind Snake of Africa.  He is named that because the rostral scale on his snout protrudes out like a bird’s beak.  Also, Brahminy Blind Snake has been introduced worldwide to greenhouses via flowerpots, and thereby earning Her the name “Flowerpot Snake”.

            Meanwhile, Thread Snakes often live in Ant and Termite hills.  By emitting the same pheromones as Ants, these Snakes have successfully adapted to life amongst these Insects.  As They munch on Ants, Thread Snakes are not usually attacked by any of the defending Insects.

            Like Deep Ancestors, Blind Snakes are not readily known.  However, through Blind Snakes, you can reach back through the mists of time to your Deep Ancestors.  Let Blind Snakes show you the attentiveness needed to find the Deep Ancestors.  Allow these secretive Snakes to connect you with the Deep Ancestors.

HOGNOSE SNAKE SUB-FAMILY (Heterodon): Proper Use of Masks

            Preferring the sandy areas of North America, Members of the Hognose Snake Sub-family hunt their favorite prey – Toads.  Immune to the toxic secretions of these Amphibians, Hognose Snakes will dig into the dirt for Them.  Contrary to popular belief, these Snakes do not use their rear fangs to pop Toads who puff Themselves up.  Instead the venom of these stout Snakes are toxic to the Toads. 

            Hognose Snakes use their unusual nose to root around in the soil looking for buried Toads. (Their snout is a large nostril scale.) Named for this distinctive nose, these Snakes use it for digging and burrowing.  Unlike the other Snakes, Hognose Snakes will dig their own burrows to sleep in. 

            Besides their upturned noses, Hognose Snakes are noted for their myriad ways of evading predators.  First, these clumsy and slow Snakes will blend into their environment.  If that does not succeed, Hognose Snakes will burrow to escape a menace.  Finally, They will also roll over on their backs and play dead.

            Hognose Snakes are also called “Puff Adders” or “Blowing Adders”.  When threatened, these Snakes rear back, flatten their heads, and take a deep breath.  After that, They inflate their bodies and hiss loudly.  People often mistake Hognose Snakes for venomous ones, and leave Them alone.

            Hognose Snakes teach about hidden identities and the proper use of masks.  Although, They do not pop the bodies of Toads, Hognose Snakes have become known as “Toad Poppers”.  Their threat displays have earned Them their name of “Puff Adder”.  These harmless Snakes have taken on an identity of a venomous Viper to save Themselves.  This serves Them well to have a fearsome reputation, since They are usually left alone.  However, Hognose Snakes are sometimes mistaken for Rattlesnakes and are usually killed. Therefore use masks wisely counsel Hognose Snakes.

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Science Notes:

1.      The common name of “hognose snake” also refers to the hognose snakes of Madagascar (Leioheterodon) and hognose snakes of South America (Lystrophis).

2.      Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) is a venomous member of the Viper Family.  This African snake is not related to any of the hognose snakes.

BLACK MAMBA: Reputation

The fastest snake in the world, Black Mamba speeds along clocking in about seven miles per hour (11 KPH).  However, She cannot sustain this high speed for long distances.  Black Mamba uses her speed mainly for escape from danger and not for hunting.

            Unlike other Elapids (Cobra-like Snakes) Black Mamba will live in trees.  Long and lithe, She easily climbs through low branches.  While in the trees, this ambush predator will wait for her prey to come by.

            Not a particularly robust Snake, Black Mamba will however not cede ground to anyone.  At the slightest sense of danger, this nervous Snake will defend Herself.  Rearing up when threatened, Black Mamba will flatten her neck and open her mouth.  (Her name “Black Mamba” comes from the black insides of her mouth.  Her body color usually is gunmetal grey or brown.)

            Black Mamba holds the distinction of being the most venomous Snake in Africa.  Many Africans call Black Mamba, the “Shadow” or “Kiss of Death”.  For them, this venomous Snake is vicious and shrewd.  Many attacks on people by Black Mamba occur in sugar cane fields.  She likes to sun Herself on top of the stalks, and is easily surprised by cane workers.

            Black Mamba inspires fear and respect in people.  What they do not know is that when She is frightened, She races to her hiding place.  Unfortunately for people, Black Mamba will attack anyone in her way.  If you let Her go about her business, you will remain safe.

            Black Mamba has an outsized reputation.  Although her bite is fatal, She is not the Snake who attacks the most people.  Various members of the Puff Adder Family are.  However more people will die when they are bitten by Black Mamba.  This major fact is imprinted in everyone’s mind.

            Black Mamba teaches to check your reputation.  Find out what is true and what is not.  See if your reputation is deserved or not.  Remember Black Mamba flees danger but will attack anybody who stands in her way.  From this comes her reputation as the deadliest Snake in Africa.

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