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Snakes of Tennessee

Snakes of Tennessee. Tennessee Agricultural Education Curriculum Chuck Flowers Liberty FFA 2011. Introduction. Reptiles are misunderstood because of misinformation, legends, myths and their nature Most of these misunderstandings come from exaggeration or hallucinations.

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Snakes of Tennessee

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  1. Snakes of Tennessee Tennessee Agricultural Education Curriculum Chuck Flowers Liberty FFA 2011

  2. Introduction • Reptiles are misunderstood because of misinformation, legends, myths and their nature • Most of these misunderstandings come from exaggeration or hallucinations Eastern Hognose Snake

  3. Snakes are beneficial in many ways • You should be able to distinguish between venomous (poisonous) and non-venomous snakes

  4. There are about 44 snake species in Tennessee • 3000 World wide • Five of these are venomous( pit vipers) • The venomous snakes consist of the following: • 2 rattlesnake species timber, pygmy • 1 cottonmouth species • 2 copperhead species –northern, southern

  5. Viviparity-egg develops in the body • Poikilothermic-body temperature varies • Herpetologist-person that studies reptiles • Amniotic Egg-snake lays an egg- egg membrane around the fetus

  6. According to the website eMedicine, there are only 5-10 deaths caused by snakebite in the United States per year. • Snakebite numbers total about 45,000 yearly, but only 8,000 (about 18%) of these are by venomous snakes. • eMedicine also reports that many of the snakebites in the United States are provoked by the victims. http://www.emedicine.com/aaem/topic417.htm

  7. SnakeCharacteristics • Cold-Blooded • Lack external ears • No eyelids • Body temp-68-95 deg. • Carnivores • Speed-1 mile/hr. Black mamba-14m/nr. • Range-3/4 mile-males • Females-1/6 mile sg.

  8. Snake Characteristics • Lifespan-15 years zoo-20 years(30) possible • See movement can not focus well • Tongue-sense buds • Jacobson’s organ • Hollow sac-nerve endings • All reproduce sexually

  9. Snake Characteristics • Mate -spring or fall • Male and female do not stay together • Avg-6-30 eggs females but python 50-100 eggs • Hatching-8-10 weeks live birth 2-3 mo. • Female carry eggs 6-8 weeks

  10. Pit Viperspoisonous • Have venom 2-reasons • Kill, protection • Have a pit between eye and nose • Fangs-hypodermic needles, can shed, grow back

  11. Poisonous Snakes-cont • 2 types poisonous- neurotoxins, hemotoxins • Neurotoxins-affect nervous system • Hemotoxins –damage blood vessels • Snake bite reactions if poisonous-swelling of tissue tissue turns black/dark blue. • Tingling sensation, nausea • Pit vipers-2 fang marks in addition to 2 row of teeth marks • 70 % of deaths- 6-48 hours after the bite occurs

  12. Snake Characteristicscont. • Pit Vipers- venom will vary on Potency: • Depends on species • Size • Condition of the snake (ate a meal, old ) • Size and sensitivity of the victim will also be a condition . • Combination of all the above

  13. Top Ten Places to Find a Snake • 10. Stream bank , pond • 9. Attic • 8. Barn Loft • 7. Shrubs • 6. Basement • 5.Garden • 4. Flower beds • 3. Junk piles • 2. Lumber Piles • 1.Firewood Ground

  14. Gray Rat SnakeElaphe obsoleta spiloides • Size: 42-72 inches • Maximum: 84 inches • Young: Hatched • Other common names: Gray Chicken Snake

  15. Black Rat SnakeElaphe obsoleta • Other common names: Black Chicken Snake, Mountain Black Snake • Size: 42-72 inches • Maximum: 101 inches • Young: Hatched

  16. Pine SnakePituophis melanoleucus • Size: 48-66 inches • Maximum: 83 inches • Young: Hatched

  17. Eastern Indigo SnakeDrymarchon corais couperi • Size: 60-84 inches • Maximum: 103 ½ • Young: Hatched

  18. Southeastern Crowned SnakeTantilla coronata • Size: 8-10 inches • Maximum: 13 inches • Young: Hatched

  19. Eastern Worm SnakeCarphophis amoenus • Size: 7 ½ -11 inches • Maximum: 13 inches • Young: Hatched

  20. Northern Black RacerColuber constrictor • Size: 36-60 inches • Maximum: 73 inches • Young: Hatched

  21. Eastern CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum • Size: 42-60 inches • Maximum: 102 inches • Young: Hatched

  22. Banded Water SnakeNerodia fasciata • Size: 24-42 inches • Maximum: 60 inches • Young: Born alive • Other common names: “Moccasin”

  23. Brown Water SnakeNerodia taxispilota • Size: 30-60 inches • Maximum: 69 inches • Young: Born Alive

  24. Eastern Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis • Size: 18-26 inches • Maximum: 48 inches • Young: Born Alive

  25. Pigmy RattlesnakeSistrurus miliarius • Other common names: Barbour’s Pigmy Rattler • Size: 15-22 inches • Maximum: 31 inches • Young: Born Alive

  26. Timber/Canebrake RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus • Size: 42-60 inches • Maximum: 74 inches • Young: Born Alive

  27. CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix • Size: 24-36 inches • Maximum: 52 inches • Young: Born Alive

  28. CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorous • Size: 30-48 inches • Maximum: 74 inches • Young: Born Alive

  29. Eastern Coral SnakeMicrurus fulvius • Size: 20-30 inches • Maximum: 47 ½ inches • Young: Hatched

  30. Eastern KingsnakeLampropeltis getula • Size: 36-48 inches • Maximum: 82 inches • Young: Hatched • Other common names: Chain Snake, Thunder Snake

  31. Mole SnakeLampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata • Size: 30-40 inches • Maximum: 45 inches • Young: Hatched

  32. Conclusions • Many snakes are beneficial • Some snakes make interesting pets • Snakes can eat more rats than a house cat • It is important to know the difference between venomous and non-venomous snake species • We need to protect our beneficial snakes

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