Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey friends,

I was asked to come up with some Reptile Fun Facts for the WJTL Kids Cookie Break, a Saturday morning kids radio show. We have done a bunch of fun reptile stuff with them before and it's a great venue to educate and enlighten the next generation about the cold-blooded creatures we share the planet with, and cultivate attitudes of conservation and wildlife appreciation.

If you can think of a few "fun facts" about herps that would be educational and possibley silly and entertaining, that would be great! It could be something simple like "the longest snake in the world, the reticulated python, can grow taller than a three story house" or something like "some pythons like to sit on their nest, while most other snakes leave them in a hole in the ground and never return to watch them hatch", or something really specific, like "scientists at MIT have developed a new surgical bandage based on the sticky pads on the feet of geckos".

This is a great opportunity to share your passion for herps/conservation with the next generation in a fun and dynamic way! I'd love to hear some of the fun ideas you can come up with! Thanks!

Kids Cookie Break Radio Show

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Jesse Rothacker
Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary
www.forgottenfriend.org

It would be cool if you could do something which would encourage kids to not be as afraid of snakes. Like "snakes will only bite in self defense" or "Venomous snakes venom is for killing prey, and they would rather not waste it on something they can't eat"

you cold mention scales are made of the same thing as fingernails and hair
or that they can go months without food
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Jake Barney and Brandon O'Dell
eight02exotics

current (small) collection
1.1.1 ball pythons
0.2 corns
1.0 cal king
0.0.1 wc garter

great ideas guys, thanks, and lemme know if you think of any more.
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Jesse Rothacker
Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary
www.forgottenfriend.org

snakes can climb trees without any arms or legs

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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python (both gorgeous)
1.1 Ball Python (normals)
2.3 hatchling ball python (normals)
1.1 Ball Python (het for albino)(gonna make my own albino)
2.1 Corn Snake (Okeetee,Sunglow x Snow,Okeetee, )
0.0.1 Gray band Kingsnake (Blairs)
1.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Andean Milksnake (het Inca phase)
1.0 Bullsnake (normal)(my garbage disposal snake)
1.1 Bullsnake (red bulls)
1.1 Black Pine Snake
1.1 Southern Snow Pine (red phase snow, snow)
1.1 Mexican Pine snake
1.1 Black Milk snake
1.0 Western Hognose (possible het albino)
1.1 Honduran Milksnake (het albino)
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback (Hondo)
0.1 Spouse (WC)(hates the herps,and not real crazy about the dog)

*1 Many species of snakes have two tiny dots(holes) at the tips of each scale known as apical pits. Scientists think that millions of years ago,these follicles might have contained tiny sensory "hairlike" structures that might have been used as an aid in their environment.

*2 Snakes slide their tongues over an organ at the roof of theit mouths called a Jacobson's Organ, this organ works sort of like a miniature "computer", and essentially "tastes" the chemical particles in the air, which in turn tells the brain how to react to any given situation. Snakes would die without their tongues, as it is the ONLY way they can tell if something is food, or if it is something to be afraid of and flee. Their eyesight is only good for seeing movement, and NOT stationary objects. If you stay perfectly motionless, snakes don't really even know you're there.

*3 Snakes can't close their eyes ,and go to sleep like people. Their eyes are covered by a lens-like structure called an ocular scale, this, as well as all the other scales, are made up of the same material as our nails and hair. This lens acts as sort of a "dive mask", and greatly protects the snake's eyes from dirt, and other things.

*4 Snakes NEVER stop growing, they just grow at a much slower rate after reaching adulthood until they die of old age.

*5 A large Python has gone two(2) years in captivity with NO FOOD whatsoever, just water. Although very underweight, one day decided to go ahead and start eating voluntarily once again.

*6 A baby rattlesnake is born alive, not hatched, with a small "button" that is it's only rattle. Every time it sheds it's skin, a new segment is added to the rattle. It is just a "wivestale" that states that there is a segment on the rattle for every year. These segments can, and do break off from time to time for many reasons, and it is NOT an age indicator at all.

just to name a few things for the kids!,...good luck, and have fun with them!

best regards ~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

You mean I got ripped off when I bought those rattlesnake eggs at the roadside travel stop? Bummer

I love that close up of the scales. I used to have a friend that took close ups like that and painted them in oil on canvas. It made for some really nice frameable art.

Keep herpin'

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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python (both gorgeous)
1.1 Ball Python (normals)
2.3 hatchling ball python (normals)
1.1 Ball Python (het for albino)(gonna make my own albino)
2.1 Corn Snake (Okeetee,Sunglow x Snow,Okeetee, )
0.0.1 Gray band Kingsnake (Blairs)
1.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Andean Milksnake (het Inca phase)
1.0 Bullsnake (normal)(my garbage disposal snake)
1.1 Bullsnake (red bulls)
1.1 Black Pine Snake
1.1 Southern Snow Pine (red phase snow, snow)
1.1 Mexican Pine snake
1.1 Black Milk snake
1.0 Western Hognose (possible het albino)
1.1 Honduran Milksnake (het albino)
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback (Hondo)
0.1 Spouse (WC)(hates the herps,and not real crazy about the dog)

>>> "You mean I got ripped off when I bought those rattlesnake eggs at the roadside travel stop? Bummer"

Man, that's too funny!,....I remember those very same ones!....wind up rubber band, and metal washer in a stupid envelope...hahaha!

Thanks for the photo comment,....and SWEET Jungle Carpet!

~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Male snakes have 2 ....... well that might not be appropriate for kids.

All snakes are carnivorous and swallow their prey whole.

Some snakes are specialized to eat birds eggs. They swallow the egg, crush it, and spit out the shell.

Snakes cannot hypnotize you with their gaze.

Some snakes have heat-sensing pits on their faces that allow them to sense heat.

Snakes scales are made of the same material as your fingernails.

The largest snakes is the ___ at ___ feet long and the smallest snake is the ___ at ___ inches long.

Snakes have no ears.

The most venomous snake is the ____.

Snakes can and do regulate their own metabolism.

Can you slow down and speed up your heartbeat at will?

Peace,
Wayne