These reptiles often get a bad rap, but there are plenty of reasons to celebrate snakes
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The eyelash viper is a relatively small species, with adults averaging from 22 to 32 inches long. Its most distinguishing feature, and origin of its common name, is the set of modified scales above the eyes that look much like eyelashes.
Nicolas Reusens, Costa Rica, 2021
Some animals loudly announce themselves. Others make a stealthy entrance, taking us by surprise. That’s the snake. Often, by the time we see them, they’ve already seen us, which may cause some uneasiness. However, there’s little reason to fret.
Reports of their venomous bites have been greatly exaggerated. Only about 15 percent of snakes have harmful venom. The number of fatal bites in the United States is just five or six annually. Chances are, that one hiding in your attic is harmless.
However, if you’re still a bit reluctant to pet or hug snakes, you can still enjoy their beauty without fear with these 15 Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images. Take a look.
Ahaetulla prasina, sometimes known as the short-nosed vine snake, is more often green than white.
Chintan Sheth, India, 2011/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/09/fd/09fd9e33-64b9-46d6-b7a6-e690c1fcda33/15-c0328b5713444a54f6edc987880ddf988a883f94.jpeg)
A copperhead snake swims between two turtles.
Adrienne Holton, Georgia, 2019/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/91/a2/91a21d76-2d5c-4bea-ab08-91915489194a/13-a9847114-0464-4a19-85ea-8fcdf6da8942.jpeg)
The juvenile green tree python—native to New Guinea and some parts of Indonesia and Australia—is often yellow in color. Green tree pythons love to snuggle up branches, coiled up and ready to ambush prey.
Chin Leong Teo, Indonesia, 2019/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/75/8d/758daab0-47a2-4034-9bbc-b3a2581fa019/14-002f1775-2d7a-436c-a546-9b465f70f8be.jpeg)
During an annual carnival in the city of Tanta, children pose for pictures with a large snake.
Abdelhamid Tahoun, Egypt, 2024/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/87/e7/87e7f4ec-1a93-4ee9-8ddf-ff988275a95c/3-182556d1-7d62-4e60-a5d9-70c17dbf7f43.jpeg)
Instead of evading a coyote, this roadrunner is the predator, scoring a similarly hued copperhead.
Andrea Shaw, Texas, 2021/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/f6/ab/f6aba6dd-2563-4758-b1d8-91d8e69b647f/10-041a6f1a-94d2-4e7b-826d-ed0370a41160.jpeg)
Some attribute many humans’ fear and dislike of snakes to the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Mahmud Hasan, Bangladesh, 1997/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/20/f5/20f5bf8e-6af7-4a74-8641-8ec48641314a/9-956938cd-45ab-46fd-92bd-a07c77c8291e.jpeg)
A keeled slug snake seemingly misplaces its meal, which is above its head.
Dikky Oesin, Indonesia, 2020/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/23/41/23412c9b-0cb3-4f9f-8ea2-5fb22af910e8/12-18a69c03-b720-4d09-a8e6-cb22d905c02f.jpeg)
An anaconda wraps its tail around the neck of a caiman, trying to strangle the adversary. The caiman submerged itself, suffocating the snake, which ultimately had to release the caiman.
Alexander Perov, Brazil, 2022/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/83/7c/837c5988-c9f3-46c2-9309-c1d3443689df/7-a4f936cc-3a20-40f9-a459-0cb6f5649f0e.jpeg)
Endemic to the Western Ghats, Malabar pit vipers are nocturnal snakes that are very much at home in the dense, wet rainforests of Amboli.
Apurba Das, India, 2021/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/fc/81/fc812d1b-0bd3-4883-a2b9-141aa0939060/11-746d0efd-70c7-43f7-ae61-85f9c89428bf.jpeg)
Green vine snakes’ venom is not dangerous to humans, which allows observers to get a close-up look at the intricate, geometric patterns of their skin.
Anandhu M, India, 2022/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/bc/9c/bc9c2e7b-5050-4b8a-8ad7-cf1a3cb605b6/5-270c3d01-09c1-4e30-b3cc-8c7e77842a33.jpeg)
A captured snake hangs in the clutches of a brahminy kite, a raptor and opportunistic hunter that primarily feeds on fish, small mammals and other prey.
Pramod CL, India, 2023/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/7a/25/7a25c2eb-858c-49c1-9d97-f85b834784d0/alt1-86407225-f76b-4bff-a7c8-9b5731c4d749.jpg)
Coachwhip snakes dwell at the tops of trees and are known to be extraordinarily fast.
Rodolfo Vega Littlewood, Mexico, 2023/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/a2/f0/a2f04276-9d33-44fe-a947-43893d44307e/2-6bdecda7-2bc1-42f0-a834-5460012e1bf2.jpeg)
A purple heron is seemingly losing the battle against a snake that has wrapped around its beak and neck.
Vinod C.L., India, 2023/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/9a/90/9a902f1c-2128-44f9-bdf0-3064dd303864/6-025b2afd-4d18-4b92-9514-80d3a5eca6ed.jpeg)
The wings of an unlucky bat protrude from the tightly clamped jaws of a Yucatán rat snake in Kantemo Cave.
Bernhard Schubert, Mexico, 2023/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/fa/76/fa765fe5-95c8-4929-b389-1079fc814c5e/1-e51aaef0-e7e2-4316-85b1-39c76e23e8b4.jpg)
