Snake myths

[bulrush]

Does anyone have any snake myths out there? I was reading one of the Firefox books (there are 7 or 8 volumes now, based on folklore in the Virginia mountains) and here's what they said. There's a snake called a "hoop snake" which has a stinger on its tail. If it stings a tree the tree will be dead in 24 hours. Also, it can bite its tail, and roll down the hill like a hoop.

Pretty funny, huh?

[ssssnakeluvr]

milk snakes drinking milk directly from cows..... also I keep hearing people talk about the "2 step snake" in Viet Nam...it bites you, you take 2 steps, and drop dead.....:eek: it's funny cuz I have never been able to find it in any books.... :D

[Charlet_2007]

the 2 step snake sounds like the black mamba lol

[adamanteus]

the 2 step snake sounds like the black mamba lol
Not from Vietnam, it doesn't! Black Mambas are African.;)
I've heard of a similar one to the 2 step... it's called the 100 pacer, for the same reasons... once you're bitten you walk 100 paces and you're dead. The name is applied locally to Deinagkistrodon acutus.

[adamanteus]

Not really a 'myth' but just something I read on the net once....
"Most snakes are poisonous. The danger is in their forked tongues." Very educational!:rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

I love this subject. :D The local herp society's magazine has old (100+ years) newspaper articles in every issue and they all contain some form of myth or obvious misunderstanding. It's really funny stuff to read.

But the commonly encountered myths.. baby snakes seeking refuge in the mother's mouth. That has to be my favourite at the moment.

[drache]

there's the one about snakes hypnotizing their victims with their eyes (Kaa)

[Snake lover 3-25]

more myths: :D:D

Puff adders (Hognose snakes) mix poison with their breath and can kill a person at a distance of twenty-five feet.

Swimmers in New England are advised to watch out for venomous cottonmouths, also known as water moccasins.

LOLOL:D:D:D

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Yes Drache,

I too recall hypnotism, only the snakes were entrancing birds...

[KITKAT]

Don't forget hoop snakes... they put their tail in their mouth, form a ring, and roll downhill.:p

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Snow snakes. when i was little and i wanted to play in the snow and my parents didnt want me to, they would remind me that the snow snakes were lurking.

[Zephyr]

The one that really gets me is when people say we have giant water moccasins in the great lakes...

[reptileparadise]

Don't forget hoop snakes... they put their tail in their mouth, form a ring, and roll downhill.:p

I just recently saw a snake eat itself! He didn't roll down a hill, but it defenitly comes close!
I'll browse the net for a picture...

[Stefan-A]

Don't forget hoop snakes... they put their tail in their mouth, form a ring, and roll downhill.:p
I think it was this myth that actually has a factual basis of sorts. The snake wouldn't put its tail in its mouth or roll down hill, but I think it went something along the lines of the snake moving in a way that made it look like it rolled horisontally. And you'll never guess what snake it is. ;)

I looked for sources for a while, this is the best I could come up with:
http://www.verveen.eu/2007%20Lacerta%20Circle%20Dance.pdf
At least the summary is in English. :rolleyes: And I hope it's not an April Fool's joke. ;)

[reptileparadise]

How nice of you to search for some dutch articles :D

Here's what I was talking about...Crazy mouse eating beasties!
(sorry about the link to the other forum...I cheat on you guys...)
Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred :: View topic - My snake is Eating himself??? (http://www.captivebred.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19866&highlight)=

[Zephyr]

Hmm... If it's not, it's pretty intriguing.

[jeanette]

this is something ive never heard of happening in the wild, could the "self eating thing" come from a captivity problem?

[MayorOgden]

My neighbor's girls thought that the snake would be slimy when I showed it to them. I think it's funny people think that they are slimy like worms.

[drache]

yeah
snakes being slimy has got to be one of the most wide-spread and persistent myth
most people are surprised when they first touch a snake

thanks for the hoop snake link, Stefan
that's pretty cool
I like the salamanders too with the Escher drawings
I'll have to read that whole thing

[adamanteus]

Here's one.....
There are Adders in Wales... Ha! Yeah, right!:D

[Stefan-A]

Here's one.....
There are Adders in Wales... Ha! Yeah, right!:D
In reality, there is no such thing as Wales. ;)

[adamanteus]

In reality, there is no such thing as Wales. ;)

Of course there is! Big grey things, hole in their head!;)

[Stefan-A]

Of course there is! Big grey things, hole in their head!;)
Sometimes a harpoon. ;)

[adamanteus]

Sometimes a harpoon. ;)

Brilliant! You made me choke!:D:D:D

[Zephyr]

Brilliant! You made me choke!:D:D:DThat's what she said.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Save the Wales!!!

[bulrush]

Jolly good, SnakeLovinBabe/Shannon/Nicole/not sure who you are!

[Snake lover 3-25]

is nicole you're last name?????

[enigma200316]

In reality, there is no such thing as Wales. ;)

aren't those wales (whales).........:cool: