By Darren Boyd
Having lived with reptiles for over half my life now, I occasionally fool myself into thinking I have seen and heard it all, and then another call comes in. Usually these calls are from people with queries based on reptile husbandry, but from time to time I come home to a panic-stricken voice mail message with a story or problem that Walt Disney himself couldn't have dreamed up. I often welcome these calls because it gives me a chance to try to educate well-meaning people who have been misinformed.
What most people are amazed to learn is that no matter how outlandish the myths and stories are that surround reptiles, the facts are more interesting than fiction! For instance, most people don't know that snakes can easily swallow a prey item five times the size of their own head.Or that several types of lizards are unisexual - they do not need a mate to reproduce. Also, did you know that reptiles are technically not cold-blooded? They are ectothermic. This means that they must rely on their environment to warm and cool their body temperature. This is why you will see turtles basking on logs. The warmth of the sun helps them to digest their food and grow at an accelerated rate. Their blood is no colder than ours at this time. Reptiles have played a role in mythology and folklore since the dawn of mankind. Focusing primarily on North America I will share some of the ones that I have heard. I'm sure you will find these amusing and perhaps educational.
Myth: You can tell the age of a rattlesnale by the number of rattles on its tail.
Fact: First of all, if you're close enough to count the rattles on a rattlesnakes tail, you're too close! The fact is, each time a rattlesnake sheds its skin, it adds a new segment to its rattle. This may happen three to eight times in a year so it is definitely not an accurate way to tell its age. Also, their rattles are not terribly strong and crawling through the type of rough terrain snakes do may cause parts or all of the rattle to break off.
Myth: You can tell the age of a turtle by the number of plates (scutes) on the bottom of its shell (Plastron).
Fact: The number of scutes on the bottom of a turtles shell is always the same. I'm not sure why those who believe this never get suspicious that every turtle they find is twelve years old!
Myth: Snakes cannot strike without coiling.
Fact: This is obviously not true. A snake can strike further when coiled, because it gains momentum. But it is capable of striking in any position.
Myth: Alligators prey on their own young.
Fact: This is a tale that is simply the result of misunderstood behaviour. Closer observation has revealed that mother gators will take their babies, one by one, in their jaws and deliver each one safely from the nest to the water upon hatching. She will continue to protect them for up to a year. This is unusual behaviour due to the fact that reptiles rarely provide any parental care.What is truly remarkable is how the same jaws that can take down a small deer can be so gentle with those babies.
Myth: Snakes chase people.
Fact: Snakes are shy and secretive creatures. That's why you rarely see them. They want nothing to do with humans and usually try to remain undetected. Any confrontation will cause them to flee. You would not believe how often I have been told by people that they have been chased by garter snakes. It does not happen. I'm not saying that these people were lying to me, I think they just misinterpreted the situation. There is not one snake in North America that is aggressive by nature and no snake on earth can outrun an average human being.
Myth: Milksnakes milk cows.
Fact: I swear I'm not making these up! This one comes from the belief some farmers used to have that snakes were sneaking into their barns at night and milking their cows. They blamed the snakes for their cows' low productivity. When they killed the snakes, they did not get more milk. They did, however, get more mice! The milksnake we have in Ontario is called the Eastern milksnake (lampropeltis t. triangulum). It is a harmless constrictor that provides us with the free service of pest control.
Myth: Turtles can leave their shells.
Fact: A turtles' shell is actually fused to the animals' skeletal system and is very much a permanent part of its body. One theory on the origin of this myth is a possible comparison to hermit crabs, who will change shells as they grow. This is, of course, not the case with turtles.
Myth: Baby venomous snakes are not as dangerous as adults.
Fact: While it's true that a baby venomous snake has less ability to deliver a large dose of venom, due to its smaller size, it is born fully equipped with a venom apparatus and is capable of delivering a potentially lethal bite (depending on the species). If you consider the venom toxicity overkill that mother nature has so generously supplied some of these snakes with, you'll realize it only takes a little bite to do a lot of damage!
Myth: Chameleons can change colour to match any background.
Fact: There are approximately 85 species of true chameleons, an old world lizard known for its ability to change colour. The truth is, they cannot match any colour or pattern (such as plaid or wood grain). It is genetically programmed in a given species, population or individual and although their colours and patterns may be vivid and intricate at times, it is a limited ability.
Myth: Snakes travel in pairs: if you kill one, its mate will seek revenge.
Fact: Snakes, for the most part are solitary creatures. Two noteable exceptions being brumation (where hundreds of snakes overwinter in an underground den called a hibernaculum) or the act of breeding which could take a few seconds to a few days. After this, the snakes go their seperate ways.
These are all common misconceptions that I have heard more than once. Some date too far back in time to trace their origin, others seem fairly modern. This tells me we still have a long way to go in shedding some light on the reality of these misunderstood animals. Hollywood movies like King Cobra and Anaconda and tv shows like PSI Factor are really no help. They're all good for a laugh - as long as you remember they're just entertainment. I hope that you found this article entertaining .
Danger in herpetoculture (i.e. - Stupid human tricks)
Common misconceptions
Reptiles, snakes in particular, often cause intelligent, educated people to react in a completely irrational manner.
Usually, people conjure up images of fatal bites and vicious attacks and cannot understand why any sane person would want to keep such an animal as a pet. Well, we know better.
It is unfortunate that, every time an accident happens with a reptile, it becomes front page news and adds to the fear of these animals already held by the general public.
I'm not sure why it is necessary for the media to exaggerate these stories and portray reptiles as evil, blood-thirsty messengers from Satan but, more often than not, they do.
I'll go out on a limb and say that 99% of these accidents were the owners fault and could have been prevented with a little foresight.
I will offer a few safety guidelines but, first, let's define what a potentially dangerous pet is, and who falls into that category.
Define 'dangerous'...
'Dangerous' can mean different things to different people. For a six-year-old child, a high-strung cat could be dangerous. For most of us, a large dog in the care of an irresponsible owner comes to mind immediately. For purposes of this article, I will focus on larger reptiles, capable of inflicting a serious --not necessarily life-threatening -- injury.
The following types of reptiles may fall into the category of potentially dangerous:
* Large constrictors (any snake larger than a boa constrictor)
*Venomous reptiles (Only professional keepers should ever consider working with these animals. I mention them here only to avoid excluding the obvious.)
*Large lizards (including monitors and common green Iguanas)
*Crocodilians (No kidding!)
Some basic safety guidelines
1. Do not kiss your reptiles. Even the most placid Iguana may get spooked and give you a serious bite. Ten stitches across your nose should not be the result of foolish behaviour. It is anthropomorphic to believe your reptile needs that kind of affection.
2. Do not smell like lunch. If you have been handling any animal that may be considered prey by your reptile (such as rodents, house pets or other reptiles), be sure to wash your hands. If you smell like lunch to a large constrictor, you might be mistaken for lunch. Duh!
3. Always have a competent individual within earshot when working with any potentially dangerous reptile, even under the most routine of circumstances.
4. Keep your reptile in an escape-proof enclosure. There is no excuse for any reptile to be loose in your house or apartment. It is not appropriate for the animal and it is unsanitary for you.
5. Wash your hands after working with any exotic animal. This should not be limited to only larger reptiles. I do not want to seem obsessive, but I cannot stress the importance of this enough. Cerain zoonoses (most commonly Salmonella) can be contracted through some exotic animals. This is always due to poor hygiene practices. This should be common sense, but it's all too easy to forget.
6. Do not take your reptile (harmless or not) out in public. Some people have herp-related phobias and an unexpected confrontation with your beloved python could trigger extreme psycological and even physical trauma to an individual. If you must show off your reptile, consider joining a herp club or similar association that has other people who share your interest and enthusiasm for the cuddly-challenged.
7. If you have very small children, should you be keeping potentially-dangerous animals of any kind? This may depend on your level of expertise and the amount of experience you have, combined with your ability to provide a secure environment for your animal. This is a question that I can't answer for you. Each case is different. You must assess your situation and come up with an informed decision. Remember, the safety of your family should always come first.
Don't drop your guard
You and I rarely, if ever, consider our pets to be dangerous and, so, we may let down our guard and become overly trusting - much as some people do with large dogs. The first rule I learned as a zookeeper is that animals are predictably unpredictable. Simply put, do not underestimate your pet. Use common sense and you will help prevent cliched headlines....a la 'snake puts squeeze on owner' --Give me a break!