What if snakes went extinct?

A big snake-sized break in the food chain could negatively impact a variety of other animals [source: Smith]. Most important to humans is the role of venom produced by snakes, as well as other venomous creatures, in the development of medicines.

Do we need snakes on earth?

Snakes play an integral role in maintaining balance in the ecosystem. In most systems, snakes can be both predator and prey. When a large prey population attracts and sustains a large snake population, those snakes become prey for birds, mammals and even other snakes!

Will snakes become extinct?

The study predicts that 11 species of snakes and lizards are likely to become extinct by 2040 unless there is a stepping up of conservation action, and identifies the 20 snakes and lizards at most risk of extinction.

Why do we need snakes?

Reason No. 1: Snakes are critical for controlling pest populations. If tomorrow, you woke up and all snakes ceased to exist, there would be extreme consequences that would soon follow. Many animals that are considered 'pests' would soon have population booms and wouldn't be able to be kept in check.

What are 3 benefits of snakes?

But there are good reasons to keep the long sliders around your home or garden. They can keep pests, such as rats and mice, in check. And some species that are harmless to people prey on poisonous snakes, reducing the chance of a deadly encounter. Snakes can be useful in controlling rat populations.

What Would Happen If Snakes Went Extinct?

Why should we save snakes?

All species are in a complex food web and help to maintain a population balance. Without snakes, the number of prey species would increase to unnatural levels and destroy the stability of the ecosystem. Similarly, if a large number of snakes are killed, the predators that eat snakes will struggle to find food.

Is snake venom used in medicine?

Snake venom contains several neurotoxic, cardiotoxic, cytotoxic, nerve growth factor, lectins, disintrigrins, haemorrhagins and many other different enzymes. These proteins not only inflict death to animals and humans, but can also be used for the treatment of thrombosis, arthritis, cancer and many other diseases.

Why do humans fear snakes?

Why? It's possible that it's hardwired, an evolutionary advantage given to those who avoided dangerous animals. On the other hand, some studies have suggested the fear is learned from our parents. Regardless, snakes play an important role in the ecosystem, and they have a lot to offer us humans.

Can a snake eat a person?

Reticulated pythons are one of few snakes that grow big enough to be able to swallow a human. Once they've constricted their prey, their incredible jaw – which in a quirk of evolution features bones that are found in our inner ear – comes into play.

Why are snakes good pets?

Like any pet, snakes offer company and stress relief for their owners. Snakes do not require daily walks in the park and they are quiet during the day and at night. With infrequent defecation, a pet snake's habitat is also an easy clean-up.

Why are snakes decreasing?

Causes of Population Decline

Pesticides, changing climates and the transition many areas of the country are making from rural to suburban or urban are all thought to be factors affecting the snake population in the U.S. and around the globe.

What would happen if sharks went extinct?

The loss of sharks has led to the decline in coral reefs, seagrass beds and the loss of commercial fisheries. By taking sharks out of the coral reef ecosystem, the larger predatory fish, such as groupers, increase in abundance and feed on the herbivores.

Why are snakes protected in Australia?

Without them the numbers of prey species would increase to unnatural levels and the predators that eat snakes struggle to find food. Along with all Australian animals, snakes are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and cannot be killed or taken from the wild.

Why are snakes so successful?

All snakes are predators - by controlling populations of their prey items, such as rodents, they remove weaker animals from the food chain, keeping populations healthy and ecosystems in balance. So, we know that if there are healthy populations of snakes that many of other species will be doing ok too.

What are 3 interesting facts about snakes?

Can you outrun an anaconda?

1: If you are attacked by an Anaconda, do not run. The snake is faster than you are. Don't try to outrun it.

Can a snake eat itself?

Some snakes can, on rare occasions, end up eating themselves. Scientists say snakes that eat other snakes may mistake their own tails as that of a prey, and once they begin swallowing their tails, they have perhaps no way of knowing that they are eating themselves.

Can a snake eat a baby?

Do Pythons Eat Babies? All kinds of snake species, including ball pythons, ringnecks, or reticulated pythons are simply too small to eat babies. Burmese pythons, or anacondas, can consider killing young children also. some snakes however preys strictly on certain preys such as ants and scorpions.

Why do cats hate snakes?

"Cats are genetically hard-wired through instinct to avoid snakes," Con Slobodchikoff, animal behaviorist and author of "Chasing Doctor Dolittle: Learning the Language of Animals," said. "Cucumbers look enough like a snake to have the cat's instinctive fear of snakes kick in."

Are snakes afraid of dogs?

It's likely that most snakes won't choose to go near dogs. They're bigger, noisier, and more of a hassle than a good snack. Simply by having your dog around, you will likely help to keep snakes away.

Can snakes be friends with humans?

Snakes are able to recognise and distinguish between humans and may recognise the scent of their owner as familiar or positive with time. However, snakes are unable to view humans as companions so cannot form a bond with their owner like other pets can.

What is King Cobra venom used for?

Scientists can use this snake venom to develop new drugs to treat illnesses. In fact, the proteins in snake venom has been used to treat many conditions. Some examples are cancer, pain, high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

What is the price of snake venom?

The DFO said that snake venom is normally priced at about $120 per gram if purchased officially, but in the grey market the seized amount would cost approximately ₹24 crore.