Reptile expert Frank Burbrink joins WIRED to answer the internet’s burning questions about snakes.
\n\nOh, buddy, I got you out of an egg, fool.
\n\nNow you're a superstar. [production card beeps]
\n\nI'm Frank Burbrink, Curator of Herpetology
\n\nat the American Museum of Natural History.
\n\nI'm here to answer your questions from the internet.
\n\n@LobaHardy asked, Why do snakes do that thing
\n\nAnd I think what Loba Hardy means is
\n\nwhy are they flicking their tongue out?
\n\nIf you look at this snake's tongue,
\n\nThere's two parts, one long part here, one long part here.
\n\nIs there predators around? Are there prey around?
\n\nAre there potentially mates around?
\n\nSo the reason that they have this forked tongue is
\n\nit allows them to get comparative information.
\n\nSo if on, let's say the left side, the scents are stronger,
\n\nthen they would know to move in that direction.
\n\nAnd the more nervous they are, the more upset they are,
\n\nyou're gonna see them flick the tongue more often.
\n\n@AnthonyAvecH asked, What's the most venomous snake?
\n\nand the way they measure it is they look at
\n\nhow much venom it takes to kill the prey.
\n\nSo the weight of the venom versus the weight…
Original source: https://www.wired.com/