AMOZON SNAKES

Introduction

Think of a dark forest. Trees of all sizes shade the forest floor. Birds call out from high branches. Animals and insects hide and play in the leaves. Snakes slither along the ground. 

A tropical rain forest is a wet and warm place. Many different kinds of snakes live there.

  Some snakes live in the middle layers of the rain forest. They are found in shrubs and trees. Other snakes live in the bottom layer of the rain forest. They spend most of their time in the rivers and swamps of the forest floor. And there are some snakes that slither from one layer to another.

The tropical rain forests of Central and South America are millions of y years old. This book is about a few of the snakes that live in these rain forests.

Rain forest layers

Chapter 1 

Snakes in the Trees

 Snakes that live in the trees of the rain forest have a few things in common. Most of these snakes are long and skinny. They also have angled scales along the underside of their bodies. These features help the snakes balance on tree branches and shrubs.

 Snakes that live in trees have features that help them survive. Some of them use camouflage. Their colors help them blend in with their surroundings and hide from predators. The Amazon tree boa does this by looking like a branch. But it is a genuine snake.

 The Amazon tree boa has extra-large eyes that can spot prey. When prey comes along, the snake uncoils and scoops it up. This snake stays in the trees most of the time. When it spots an animal in the water, it drops down and quickly swims after it.

Amazon tree boas don't miss much Their eyes are bigger than those of most other snakes.

Boa Constrictors

How does a boa constrictor tell the difference between a warm-blooded animal and a cold  rock? Like  other snakes, it has a pit above each eye. These pits help it sense when       another animal is near.The pit of the Columbian red-tailed boa constrictor

 Can you guess how the emerald tree boa got its name? Like an emerald jewel, this tree snake is green. It's hard to tell it from the green shrubs and branches where it lives. It may look harmless, but it is very dangerous. Like other boas, the emerald tree boa grabs its prey with its long teeth and squeezes it to death. Then it swallows the creature whole.

 The eyelash viper is about 2 feet (0.61 m) long. This snake hides in branches when it is hungry. When the eyelash viper spots prey, it injects it with venom. Then it hangs by its tail and eats its dinner very slowly.

Chapter 2 

Snakes on the Floor

 The anaconda is one of the most feared creatures in the rain forest. It is the heaviest snake in the world. It is also very long. The longest anaconda ever seen was found in South America. It was 37.5 feet (11.43 m) long.

 All Snakes Molt

 All snakes molt, or shed their skins. Before molting begins, the snake hides away. Soon its body becomes wet. The old skin begins to turn inside out, from top to bottom, as the snake slithers out. Most adult snakes shed their skins two to five times a year. Younger snakes outgrow their skins faster and molt more often.

 The anaconda is a member of the boa constrictor family. Anacondas are sometimes called water boas because they move well through water. They also slither through the marshes and swamps of the rain forest floor. Anacondas eat fish, pigs, and deer.

 Beware the fer-de-lance (FER-duh-lans)! This pit viper is quick to attack when threatened. If you accidentally step on this snake, you won't have time to apologize. It will bite you with very long fangs. The longer a snake's fangs are, the more venom it can inject. The fer-de-lance is able to search for food in total darkness. Its tongue flickers and smells the air. The pits above its nostrils sense warm-blooded prey.

Chapter 3

At Home in the Rain Forest

Throughout history the people of the rain forest have painted and carved images of snakes. They have made up snake stories and dances. In some artwork a coiled snake stands for the circle of life. In some stories the snake stirs up rivers and sinks boats as if they were made of cardboard. But most snakes are shy creatures. They are more afraid of people than people are of them.

Think of a rain forest tree on a quiet weekday. Think of the birds, insects, lizards, snakes, and other animals that live in the tree. What happens if that one tree is cut down? The snakes, birds, and other creatures will move to another tree. But what happens if that tree is also cut down?

The rain forests of Central and South America are shrinking. People are using the land and trees for other things. If we are be careful, the rain forests may disappear.

Conclusion

 Tropical rain forests are home to countless snakes. Many of the world's largest snakes live there. Some snakes live in the trees. Others live on the rain forest floor. They climb, slither, and swim. Some snakes use poison to kill their prey. Others squeeze their prey to death.

 Snakes can be harmful to humans. They are also beautiful creatures living in a fragile environment. By leaving snakes alone, humans can stay safe. And the lives and homes of snakes will be preserved.