Secrets of Snakes: The Science beyond the Myths (Volume 61) (W. L. Moody Jr. Natural History Series)

Winner, 2020 National Outdoor Book Award, Nature and the Environment Snakes inspire extreme reactions. Love or hate these limbless reptiles, almost everyone is fascinated by them. Although snakes are widespread and frequently encountered, they may be more misunderstood than any other group of animals. From giant rattlesnakes to mating dances, there are dozens of myths and misconceptions about snakes. In Secrets of Snakes: The Science beyond the Myths , wildlife biologist David Steen tackles the most frequently asked questions and clears up prevailing myths. In a conversational style with a bit of humor, Steen presents the relevant biology and natural history of snakes, making the latest scientific research accessible to a general audience. When addressing myths about snakes, he explains how researchers use the scientific method to explain which parts of the myth are biologically plausible and which are not. Steen also takes a close look at conventional wisdom and common advice about snakes. For example, people are told they can distinguish coralsnakes from non-venomous mimics by remembering the rhyme, “red on black, friend of Jack, red on yellow, kill a fellow,” but this tip is only relevant to coralsnakes and two mimics living in the southeastern United States, and it does not always work with other species or in other countries. Enhanced by more than 100 stunning color photographs and three original drawings, Secrets of Snakes: The Science beyond the Myths encourages readers to learn about the snakes around them and introduces them to how scientists use the scientific method and critical thinking to learn about the natural world. Number Sixty-one: W. L. Moody Jr. Natural History Series Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Part I. Identifying Snakes Chapter 1. The Shape of a Snake’s Head Does Not Reveal the Danger Chapter 2. Are Snakes with Red on Black Truly a Friend of Jack? Chapter 3. What Is the Difference between a Cottonmouth and a Water Moccasin? Chapter 4. How Can You Tell a Copperhead from a Cottonmouth? Chapter 5. Is This a Black Snake? Species Profile: The Ratsnakes Chapter 6. Can You Tell Whether a Snake Is Venomous by the Way It Swims? Chapter 7. It Is Shaking Its Tail; Is It a Rattlesnake? Chapter 8. Can You Tell If a Snake Is Venomous by the Shape of Its Pupils? Part II. Snake Myths and Misconceptions Chapter 9. Are Baby Snakes More Dangerous Than Adults? Chapter 10. Do Snakes Travel in Pairs? Chapter 11. Is It a Bad Year for Snakes? Chapter 12. Can You Fall into a Nest of Cottonmouths? Chapter 13. Should You Worry about Stepping into a Cottonmouth Breeding Ball? Species Profile: Gophersnake, Pituophis catenifer Chapter 14. Will a Cottonmouth Drop into My Boat? Chapter 15. Can a Rattlesnake’s Rattle Tell You How Old the Snake Is? Chapter 16. Cottonmouths North of Virginia? I Don’t Think So Chapter 17. Are Snakes Aggressive? Chapter 18. Are Rattlesnakes Rattling Less Because of Hogs? Chapter 19. Will Cottonmouths Chase and Bite You? Part III. Understanding Snakes Chapter 20. How Big Do Rattlesnakes Get? Chapter 21. Can Snakes Bite Underwater? Chapter 22. Is Relocating a Snake from My Yard a Death Sentence? Chapter 23. Why It Doesn’t Make Sense to Kill Snakes in Your Yard Species Profile: Dekay’s Brownsnake, Storeria dekayi Chapter 24. What’s the Most Dangerous Snake? Chapter 25. Is This Snake Poisonous? Chapter 26. Will It Bite? Chapter 27. What Is a Mating Dance? Chapter 28. Are Snakes Territorial? Chapter 29. How Can I Keep Snakes Out of My Yard? Closing Remarks Notes Selected Bibliography Further Reading Index "Snakes inspire extreme reactions. Love or hate these limbless reptiles, almost everyone is fascinated by them. Although snakes are widespread and frequently encountered, they may be more misunderstood than any other group of animals. From giant rattlesnakes to mating dances, there are dozens of myths and misconceptions about snakes. In Secrets of Snakes: The Science beyond the Myths, wildlife biologist David Steen tackles the most frequently asked questions and clears up prevailing myths. In a conversational style with a bit of humor, Steen presents the relevant biology and natural history of snakes, making the latest scientific research accessible to a general audience. When addressing myths about snakes, he explains how researchers use the scientific method to explain which parts of the myth are biologically plausible and which are not. Steen also takes a close look at conventional wisdom and common advice about snakes. For example, people are told they can distinguish coralsnakes from non-venomous mimics by remembering the rhyme, “red on black, friend of Jack, red on yellow, kill a fellow,” but this tip is only relevant to coralsnakes and two mimics living in the southeastern United States, and it does not always work with other species or in other countries. Enhanced by more than 100 stunning color photographs and three original drawings, Secrets of Snakes: The Science beyond the Myths encourages readers to learn about the snakes around them and introduces them to how scientists use the scientific method and critical thinking to learn about the natural world."--Amazon.com viewed Jan. 14, 2021 Foreword / by Harry W. Greene -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Identifying snakes -- The shape of a snake's head does not reveal the danger -- Are snakes with red on black truly a friend of Jack? -- What is the difference between a cottonmouth and a water moccasin? -- How can you tell a copperhead from a cottonmouth? -- Is this a black snake? -- Species profile: The ratsnakes -- Can you tell whether a snake is venomous by the way it swims? -- It is shaking its tail; is it a rattlesnake? -- Can you tell if a snake is venomous by the shape of its pupils? -- Snake myths and misconceptions -- Are baby snakes more dangerous than adults? -- Do snakes travel in pairs? -- Is it a bad year for snakes? -- Can you fall into a nest of cottonmouths? -- Should you worry about stepping into a cottonmouth breeding ball? -- Species profile: Gophersnake, Pituophis catenifer -- Will a cottonmouth drop into my boat? -- Can a rattlesnake's rattle tell you how old the snake is? -- Cottonmouths north of Virginia? I don't think so -- Are snakes aggressive? -- Are rattlesnakes rattling less because of hogs? -- Will cottonmouths chase and bite you? -- Understanding snakes -- How big do rattlesnakes get? -- Can snakes bite underwater? -- Is relocating a snake from my yard a death sentence? -- Why it doesn't make sense to kill snakes in your yard -- Species profile: Brownsnake, Storeria dekayi -- What's the most dangerous snake? -- Is this snake poisonous? -- Will it bite? -- What is a mating dance? -- Are snakes territorial? -- How can I keep snakes out of my yard? -- Closing remarks