Myth 12: Snakes Dance To The Tunes Of Snake Charmers
The practice of snake charm is still prevalent despite the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act banning it. Even after independence from the British Raj, India has been portrayed as ‘the land of snake charmers’, making ‘witnessing snake charmers’ a popular tourist attraction!
Snakes don’t have external ears, so they cannot hear the sound of the snake charmer’s flute or dance to its tune, which is what they claim the snake is doing.
In this case, a Cobra raises its hood to defend itself and appears to be ‘dancing or swaying’ as it mimics the movement of its threat – a flute.
To lure tourists and capture their attention, saperas tap their feet rapidly on the ground. These vibrations are what these reptiles feel and sense in their bodies and sway accordingly trying to detect an attack.
Fact 12: A Snake Cannot Be Identified By The Colour Of Its Body Or The Shape Of Its Head
An Indian Rock Python, which is a non-venomous snake, shows a triangular-shaped head, which is usually associated with the venomous Viperidae family. In contrast, the Common Krait, another Big Four venomous snake in India, has a rounded head.
Because of their similar coloration and stripes, Wolf snakes often confuse predators with Kraits. Mimicry is called Bastian Mimicry.
Another reason not to rely on colouration for identification is colour polymorphism or variation of colour within a species.
In addition to being born brown, Malabar pit vipers can change colors throughout their lives, such as green, blue, yellow, and even vivid red, making it very difficult for laypeople to determine which snake they are.
For more examples read the article 35 Most Beautiful And Colorful Snakes Of The World Part-3 | Discover the Gorgeous Unique Snakes
