One cannot but become fascinated with snakes. With their glossy ‘skin’ and forked tongues and their varied ways of killing their preys, is it any wonder that even Hollywood has kept a continuing fixation with snakes. Currently, there are about 2,500 to 3,000 kinds of species of snake in the world. This list keeps on growing as more and more species of snakes are discovered. Out of these thousands of snake species, snakes can really be just classified into five families. These are the: Colubridae, Boidae, Elapidae, Viperidae and Hydrophiidae. Actually, a majority of snakes are not venomous and use other means to kill their prey. If you want to learn more of the different types of snakes then read on as we enter the fascinating world of snakes.

The Colubridae, also known as colubrids, is a type of snake that accounts for nearly two thirds of the snakes in the world. It is the largest of the five families and majority of the snakes that belong in the Colubridae family are not venomous. Only a few colubrid snakes, like the African Twig snake and the Boomslang, produce venom. Colubridae snakes are generally harmless for humans. Their bodies are completely covered in scales and their fangs are located at the rear of their mouth. Examples of colubrids are the Common Keelback, the Queen snake, King Snake, Bull Snake, Corn Snake, Rat Snake, Smooth Snake, Garter Snake, Milk Snake and the Water Snake Mussurana.

Another family of snakes is the Boidae family. The Boidae family, also known as boids, is home to three of the largest snakes in the whole world: the African rock python, the reticulated python, and the anaconda. Other species that are part of the Boidae family are pythons and boas. Boids are generally not venomous and they use their strength to constrict and kill their preys.

Some of the most venomous snakes in the world, such as the black mamba and the fierce snake are found in the Elapidae family, also known as elapids. All elapids are venomous and they are found mostly in the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. Elapids posses hollow fangs that they use to inject venom into their prey. The Elapidae snake produces neurotoxic venom that targets the nervous system of its prey. The elapids include the Australian copperheads, cobras, coral snakes, kraits, king cobras, and mambas.

Snakes that have hinged and long fangs that penetrate deep into their prey’s flesh come from the Viperidae family. All viperids are venomous and they give out hematoxic venom that targets their prey’s blood and tissues causing disruption of the blood clotting system, necrosis, strong local swelling and blood loss. Examples of snakes that belong in the Viperidae family are: rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, vipers, adders, bushmasters and copperheads.

The Hydrophiidae snake family is home to the sea snakes. They are one of the most venomous snakes in the world. 1.5 milligram of a Hydrophiidae’s venom is enough to kill a full grown human. Fortunately for us, these kinds of snake do not bite unless they are provoked. All Hydrophiidae snakes are venomous.

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A research team of ecologists in the Netherlands has discovered that herbivore insects make use of plant life to communicate with one another. Insects living underground deposit chemical “markers” on the leaves of neighboring plants, alerting other insects that the area is occupied. This chemical communication system is important to prevent insects from competing for the same plant.

It has long been known that animals communicate through many different methods, including noises, body language and odor; but the new research suggests that insects are effectively using plants as “communication tools,” in much the same way that humans use telephones to communicate important information across a great distance.

The research was carried out by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology, and the particular project which led to this discovery was headed up by Roxina Soler Gamborena, a Ph.D. candidate in ecological studies. The new research highlights the complicated interaction between sub terrestrial insects and plant and animal life above ground.

The scientists theorize that certain insects evolved through natural selection to use surrounding plant life as a communications tool to avoid overfeeding on particular plants. This behavior benefits not only the insects, but the plants themselves, and helps to keep the entire ecosystem in balance.

Researchers have dubbed the plant communication the “green phone line,” because it allows insects living deep underground to communicate information to animals on the surface and protect their living environment. The communication signals transmitted through the plants can be received and understood by a wide variety of animal life, including caterpillars, wasps and other insects.

Technically, the “green phone line” works like this: root-eating insects living underground deposit chemicals on the leaves of plants above. These chemical markers warn other insects that the plant is being fed on from below, which discourages them from feeding on it above ground. This is important because research has shown that insects that feed on plants which are also being consumed below ground — at the root level — receive less nutrients from the plant and will develop slower.

The chemical communication carried out via the plant is a clear warning to insects above; “if you feed on this plant you will not receive proper nutrition.” It has been observed that even flying insects will avoid feeding on the plant containing the chemical marker, suggesting that communicating via plant life is an effective and mutually beneficial behavior among insects.

As human beings, we often like to think that we are the only life forms with the ability to communicate over long distances, or to use tools to do so. But this new ecological research clearly demonstrates that even subterranean insects are adept communicators and tool users.