Scientists Feared the World’s Smallest Snake Had Gone Extinct. They Just Found It Again
When fully grown, the Barbados threadsnake is only three to four inches long—shorter than many earthworms
These Odd Bony Structures Were Hiding Beneath the Skin of Far More Lizards Than Thought, Researchers Find
Called osteoderms, the chain mail-like plates may have helped some species adapt to Australia’s harsh environment
‘Robo-Bunnies’ Are the Newest Weapon in the Fight Against Invasive Burmese Pythons in Florida
Scientists are experimenting with robotic rabbits in hopes of luring the destructive snakes out of hiding so they can be euthanized
Researchers Discover the Trick That Allows Burmese Pythons to Digest the Bones of Their Prey
Special intestinal cells collect excess minerals into particles the snakes can poop out, according to a new study
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
See 15 Photos of Sensational, Slithering Snakes
These reptiles often get a bad rap, but there are plenty of reasons to celebrate snakes
What’s Up With These Slithering Snake Sculptures That Appeared in Switzerland?
Millions get bitten by snakes each year, and tens of thousands of those victims die. Now, global health experts are trying to get those numbers down
Florida Bobcat Kills 13-Foot Python for the First Time on Record. It’s a Sign of Nature ‘Fighting Back’ Against the Invasive Snakes
Burmese pythons are wreaking havoc on the Everglades ecosystem, but some native animals have been known to prey on the enormous reptiles
This Eye-Catching Rattlesnake Found in Arizona Has Unusual ‘Leopard Spots,’ Likely From a Genetic Mutation
Snake wranglers safely relocated the healthy, female western diamondback from a backyard in Scottsdale, but they say the find is a first in their experience
This Elusive Snake’s Habitat Is Under Threat in Ecuador. Here’s How Conservationists Are Fighting Back
How do you protect an endangered serpent with a special talent for hiding in plain sight?
200 Snakebites Later, One Man’s Blood May Hold the Key to a Universal Antivenom
Over two decades, Tim Friede has injected himself with snake venom hundreds of times, and subjected himself to more than 200 bites. Now, scientists are working on an antivenom derived from his antibodies
Biologists Rejoice as Extremely Rare Guam Kingfishers Lay Their First Wild Eggs in Nearly 40 Years
The brightly colored birds are extinct in the wild, having disappeared from their native Guam in 1988 due to the introduction of the invasive brown tree snake. But now, they’re starting to make a comeback on Palmyra Atoll
Six Clever Snakes to Celebrate as We Slither Into the Lunar New Year
These fascinating serpents embody acclaimed qualities including cunning and intelligence
How Snake Oil Became a Symbol of Fraud and Deception
The terms “snake oil” and “snake-oil salesperson” are part of the vernacular thanks to Clark Stanley, a quack doctor who marketed a product for joint pain in the late 19th century
‘We Have a Rattlesnake Problem’: Wildland Firefighters in the West Must Also Face a Slithering, Venomous Foe
Nearly 100 large fires are burning in the United States right now, including some in rattlesnake territory
Common Blood Thinners Could Combat Snakebites, Preventing Tissue Damage and Amputations, Study Finds
An estimated 400,000 people per year are permanently disabled because of snake venom, which can cause lesions and necrosis at the bite site
Look Into a ‘Mega Den’ of 2,000 Slithering Rattlesnakes With This Live Stream in Colorado
Run by researchers at Cal Poly, the stream is part of a citizen science initiative that aims to change the public’s perception of the much-maligned reptiles
130-Foot Snake Carving Slithers Through 2,000-Year-Old Rock Art Found in South America
The conspicuous reptile renderings spotted along the Orinoco River likely functioned as territorial markers, akin to pre-Colombian road signs
Why Is Chinese Art Full of Dragons, Phoenixes and Tigers?
A new exhibition showcases stunning mythical artworks of the Zhou Dynasty’s “lost” kingdoms
Dice Snakes Fake Their Own Deaths With Gory, Poop-Filled Theatrics
When attacked by a predator, the reptiles can play dead with convincing detail, employing blood and feces for the show
Scientists Uncover Bones of Massive Extinct Snake, Comparable in Size to the 43-Foot Titanoboa
The 27 vertebrae discovered in India suggest the enormous creature, dubbed Vasuki indicus, was between 36 and 50 feet long
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