1. Legless reptiles with long, thin bodies, no eyelids, and fork-shaped tongues that are extensible: It is estimated that there are about 2,250 species of snakes from fourteen families with body lengths up to ten meters (32.81 feet), with no forelimbs or hind limbs, living in terrestrial, arboreal, or aquatic regions; and which are usually carnivorous or insectivorous.

The reproduction of snakes are oviparous (egg-laying and hatching outside the body) or ovoviviparous (producing living young from eggs that hatch within the body).

Why are snakes sometimes called "serpents"? Because they creep or sneak around; as indicated by the Latin origin serpere, serpens, "to creep".

2. A treacherous person who is cold-blooded: Alan's cousin was considered to be a snake in the grass and untrustworthy.

There are those who are considered to be snakes because they exploit their positions of trust in order to betray other people.

Throughout the centuries, people have had various responses to snakes.

The above images represent medical organizations based on the Greek god Aesculapias who healed people.

More information about the medical relationships to snakes is located in the two sections about Aesculapias.

Then there are those who really like snakes OR have a severe fear of them; as illustrated in the above image.

An unusual reptile that lives in rivers: The tentacled snake is distinguished from other snakes by having a unique pair of soft, fleshy tentacles on its nose.

Tentacled snakes are sluggish and nocturnal, and they hunt by lying in weed-choked water, waiting for prey to swim by.

A female tentacled snake gives birth to 5-13 live young ones underwater.