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Thesmallest snake in Illinois is the
flathead snake. The longest Illinois specimen measures eight inches (20.3
cm). |
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The largest Illinois snake is the
bullsnake (Pituophis melanoleucus), with the Illinois record length
at seven feet, two inches (218.5 cm). |
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A snake can swallow prey that is three
times larger than the size of its own head. |
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Snakes are very efficient rodent controllers.
Large and medium-sized snakes can eat up to nine pounds of rats and mice
per year. That amount of rodents could fill a king-sized pillowcase! |
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Females of some snake species can
store sperm for as long as five years inside their body. |
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Snake scales and rattlesnake rattles
are made of keratin, a hard protein also found in the hair, fingernails,
and hooves of other animals. |
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Snakes have four rows of teeth in
the top of the mouth and two rows on the bottom of the mouth. |
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Rattlesnakes add a new segment at
the base of the rattle each time the snake sheds its skin. Old segments
at the tip may disintegrate or break off. |
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Kingsnakes are immune to the venom
of copperheads, cottonmouths, and rattlesnakes. |
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When threatened, a hognose snake spreads
its head and neck, somewhat like a cobra would, then rolls over and plays
dead if it continues to be disturbed. |
