Glossary
- Brumation
- Reptile dormancy during cold periods, similar to hibernation.
- Colubrid
- Member of Colubridae, the largest snake family; most are harmless.
- Constriction
- Subduing prey by coiling and squeezing.
- Ecdysis
- Shedding of the outer skin layer.
- Ectotherm
- Animal relying on external heat to regulate body temperature.
- Elapid
- Front-fanged venomous snakes such as cobras, mambas, sea snakes and coral snakes.
- Fang
- Specialised tooth for delivering venom.
- Heat pit
- Organ that senses infrared heat, found in pit vipers, boas and pythons.
- Herpetology
- The study of reptiles and amphibians.
- Jacobson's organ
- Vomeronasal organ in the roof of the mouth used for smell-taste.
- Neurotoxin
- Toxin affecting the nervous system.
- Oviparous
- Laying eggs.
- Viviparous
- Giving birth to live young.
- Ophiophagous
- Eating other snakes.
- Scute
- Large scale, especially the broad belly scales.
- Spectacle (brille)
- Transparent scale covering the eye.
- Venom
- Toxic secretion injected by bite.
- Viper
- Member of Viperidae with long hinged fangs.