Join us as we look at some of the weirdest snakes in the world!
Number 14. Albino Nelson Snake
Also known as the Nelson's milksnake, this strange-looking serpent stands out from the
average brown variety. With nearly pure white scales broken up by bold red rings, the albino
Nelson is a stunning creature. It is a type of king snake that lives mostly in Mexico
from Jalisco and Guanajuato to the Pacific coast, as well as on the Tres Marias Islands
and in northwestern Michoacan . These slithering reptiles grow up to 42 inches long and are
- fortunately - not venomous. Nelson's milksnakes were named for the U.S. Biological Survey
member Edward W. Nelson, who worked for the organization beginning in 1890.
Number 13. Tiger Keelback
This weird snake is found in East and Southeast Asia. It's also called the "yamakagashi" in
Japan and the "floral snake" in Korea. Tiger keelbacks are deep olive in hue with bright
orange and black stripes or spots - similar to the pattern of a tiger - that travel down
around a third of their bodies. Their underbellies are whitish, and they grow up to 39 inches
long. These serpents mostly feed on frogs and toads but also eat other small vertebrates.
Tiger keelbacks aren't very aggressive when they feel threatened. Instead of striking
quickly like many other snakes, they tend to flatten themselves and stay still when
temperatures are cold and flee when temperatures are warm. This species also has two glands
in its neck that isolate steroid irritants they obtain from the poisonous toads they
ingest. Tiger keelbacks use this compound as a defense against predators.
Number 12. Queen Snake
Queen snakes aren't the strangest looking reptiles with an overall dark brown, gray,
or olive color and yellowish stripes that vertically run down their bodies from head
to tail. They also have four darker stripes that span the length of their bellies, which
is important for their identification since no other snakes of similar species exhibit
this pattern. The queen snake is truly unusual because of its highly specific environmental
requirements and dietary needs. These serpents can only survive in places with clean running
streams and drainage pools that have rocky or stony beds. Plus, the water must remain
a minimum of 50 degrees Fahrenheit when the queen snakes aren't hibernating during the
winter. The reason for all of this is due to the snake's prey, which is made up almost
exclusively of newly-molted crayfish. When crayfish have just molted, they're unable
to properly defend themselves, and queen snakes take full advantage of that.
Number 11. Common Vine Snake
Although its name implies that it's ordinary, the common vine snake looks anything but.
Also called the long-nosed whip snake, this bright green serpent is very slender with
a narrow, pointed face and squinty eyes that seem to say, "what are you up to?" Common
vine snakes live in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Bangladesh.
These slithering critters are somewhat venomous and arboreal and prey mostly on lizards and
frogs. Common vine snakes use binocular vision to hunt, which means they can discern one
3D image using both of their eyes - kind of like humans. Despite their tiny size, these
snakes move slowly and blend in with the foliage and vines of their environment.
Number 10. Burrowing Asp
These sleek snakes are only native to the Middle East and Africa. Other common names
for these serpents are mole vipers, stiletto snakes, burrowing vipers, and side-stabbing
snakes. "Side-stabbing snake" refers to this creature's ability to strike at prey or predators
with the side of its head and plunge a single protruding fang into its target, thus injecting
them with venom. Burrowing asps can be any of about 19 species of snakes, one of which
is the Israeli mole viper. This threatening asp is generally black with round pupils set
in small eyes. Its tail and head are short and pointed, making it difficult to tell which
end is which - an important task for any potential victim. They grow up to about 31 inches in
length and are highly venomous. Although this mole viper prefers delicious baby snakes,
it'll settle for small mammals.
Number 9. Eastern Hognose Snake
It may not be the prettiest of serpents, but the eastern hognose is certainly an odd-looking
snake. Also known as the spreading adder, eastern hog-nosed snake, or deaf adder, this
blunt-faced reptile is only found in North America. Since the eastern hognose isn't harmful
to people - only unlucky amphibians - it's often considered non-venomous. These snakes
grow up to an average of 28 inches long and come in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
Green, red, orange, grey, black, brown, or any combination of these - you name it and
there's surely a hognose out there sporting that unusual hue. Their patterns also vary
from blotchy to checkered and sometimes no pattern at all, and their underbellies tend
to be yellow, grey, or off-white. But, the feature that doesn't change from snake to
snake is its small upturned snout, which is used to dig in loose soil.
Number 8. Spiny Bush Viper
Now, this sharp-looking snake is one that's sure to grab your attention. It's endemic
to Central Africa and is also called the rough-scaled bush viper and hairy bush viper. These slithering
bad boys grow up to 29 inches long. They have short snouts, and although their Disney-like
eyes make them look almost inviting, they're recognized for something else: their scales.
Their large, exceptionally keeled dorsal scales make these vipers look spiky and threatening.
Some people compare them to bristles. Either way, the spiny bush viper looks like something
you don't want to mess with, so listen to your instincts if you come face-to-face with
one. Their venom is mostly made of neurotoxins and can be lethal to people who don't quickly
seek medical attention.
Number 7. Flying Snake
Just by hearing the name of this snake, you can guess what makes it so unique. It's not
often that you see a snake soaring through the air - unless it's on a plane. Get it?
These reptiles are also called gliding snakes, and they live in Southeast Asia, southern
China, Sri Lanka, and India. Flying snakes can climb up trees by pushing against the
bark using the ridge-like scales on their bellies. Once the snake comes to the tip of
a branch and its tail hangs off the end, it's ready to take a leap of faith. Rearing back
into a "J" shape and then leaning forward to determine the angle of its jump, the flying
snake plunges from the branch, forcing itself up and away. It then sucks in its abdominal
area and flares its ribs, making it more wing-like. While gliding through the sky, the flying
snake moves as it would on the ground to help it land properly.
Number 6. Sea Snake
They're on the ground, in the air, and in the sea! No matter where you are, there's
no escaping all of the world's weird squirming reptiles. This subfamily of serpents is found
throughout the warm waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans, usually near the coast.
Most species of sea snakes grow up to about 5 feet long, but the largest of its kind is
the yellow sea snake, which can reach almost 10 feet. Although many of these serpents have
interesting colors, one of the most unique-looking is the yellow-lipped sea krait. Its head is
black, snout and upper lip are yellow, and its body is usually blueish grey. Bold, black
rings horizontally pattern the snake from head to tail, but they halt at the snake's
belly, which is yellow. Like many vibrant creatures, these snakes are highly venomous
but don't strike at people unless they feel threatened.
Number 5. Horned Viper
These dangerous-looking snakes grow to a max of 33 inches long and are easily discernible
by their horn-like protrusions set above each eye. They range from yellowish, pinkish, or
pale brown or grey, generally matching the substrate of their environment. Since they
live in North African deserts and the Middle East, horned vipers look fairly rough and
sandy. They travel across the soil or sand by sidewinding, a movement unique to snakes
that need to get from place to place through slippery or loose substrates. Horned vipers
don't strike for no reason, only doing so if they feel threatened. They do, however,
hide in the sand and await their prey, striking quickly when the unlucky critter approaches.
These devilish snakes are venomous too. Being bitten can cause nausea, vomiting, swelling,
hemorrhaging, and necrosis.
Number 4. Elephant Trunk Snake
If this list was about the world's prettiest snakes, then the elephant trunk wouldn't make
the list. They look very similar to the animal's snout they're named after. Their heads are
wide and flat, and their nostrils are located on top of their snouts. With heads only as
wide as their bodies and baggy dull-brown skin, elephant trunk snakes aren't exactly
a sight for sore eyes. They grow up to 94 inches long and are sometimes kept as pets
since they aren't venomous. These snakes are aquatic, living in lagoons, rivers, and estuaries.
Elephant trunk snakes are also nocturnal and feed mostly on amphibians and fish, lying
patiently in wait before ambushing their prey. They seldom go on land and can stay underwater
for up to 40 minutes at a time.
Number 3. Tentacled Snake
These peculiar creatures are native to Southeast Asia and are easily characterized by the so-called
"tentacles" that don the front of their heads. They reach 35 inches in length and vary slightly
in color and pattern including blotched, striped, tan, brown, and grey. You'll probably never
see a tentacled snake in the wild since they live their entire lives in murky waters - not
that humans have anything to worry about. These serpents possess venomous fangs, but
they're located far back in their mouths. Plus, tentacled snakes feed on fish.
Number 2. Brahminy Blind Snake
If you look at this snake and think "earthworm," you're not the first one. The brahminy blind
snake reaches a maximum length of just 4 inches, making it the world's smallest known species
of snake. They live their lives burrowing underground, making them even more wormlike.
What sets them apart from earthworms and makes them recognizable as snakes are their little
scales and itty-bitty eyes. Brahminy blind snakes are native to Africa, Maritime Southeast
Asia, and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. They take up residency in termite and ant nests,
dry jungles, wet forests, city gardens, and underneath leaves, logs, and stones. Since
they're nonvenomous and feed on the pupae, eggs, and larvae of termites and ants, there's
nothing to worry about regarding these minuscule serpents.
Number 1. Malagasy Leaf-Nosed Snake
Perhaps the weirdest looking snake of all is the Malagasy - or Madagascar - leaf-nosed
snake. It only lives in Madagascar and grows to about 3 feet long. The males of the species
have long, tapered snouts, while the females' snouts are flattened and leaf-like. Besides
camouflaging the snakes in foliage, the use of their unique snouts is unknown. Malagasy
leaf-nosed snakes don't prove much of a threat to humans and primarily hunt by sitting and
waiting for their prey to come close. Although bites from these serpents are severely painful,
they aren't lethal.
Which of these snakes do you think is the weirdest and why? Are there any other strange
snakes you'd add to the list? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks
for watching!