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I, like most everyone else, am really looking forward to May 22, when the new Indiana Jones movie hits screens. Indy is the perfect hero, except for that one flaw: his fear of snakes. After some research, though, I found that he may not have been too far off in being scared of snakes. Here are some reasons he was right.
They might take over the country
It sounds like something out of a horror movie: deadly snakes slither into an unsuspecting town, slowly killing the poor citizens. Unfortunately, it’s really happening. A drought in Australia earlier this year started pushing snakes into cities in search of water, where they took to biting the people they saw. The number of snake attacks went up during the drought. And not even the Americas are immune from the snake attack. In two events that would shock Captain Planet, deforestation in Brazil is making deadly snakes flee to cities, while global warming might force Burmese pythons to expand their habitat to the southern third of the United States. Ironically, extreme climate change may have created one of Indy’s safe havens. Contrary to the popular St. Patrick explanation, Ireland may be snake-free because of the Ice Age. The temperatures were too cold for snakes to survive for years, and once the earth warmed up, the surrounding seas probably kept the snakes away. After all, this was long before snakes discovered air travel.
They’re really, really, really deadly
Popular Science recently called snake venom evolution’s most effective killer, which is some pretty high praise. Turns out the poison is so ninja-like, it covers every base. It can slow prey down, giving the snake a better chance to catch it, while some even contain a diuretic, so the prey leaves a trail of urine. Venom can be divided into three categories, each with their own deadly attribute. The cytotoxins break down the cells and muscles, essentially starting digestion before the prey even enters the snake’s mouth. Hemotoxins go after the blood, either clotting it or destroying the red blood cells. And neurotoxins either numb or overload the nervous system. Even though these toxins are ridiculously lethal, scientists are mining them for potential cures for cancer and the venom from a Brazilian pit snake even formed the basis for ACE inhibitors.
It’s in his genes (your’s too)
Those hidden picture games in the old Highlights for Kids magazine may hold the key to why Indy was so scared of snakes. A recent University of Virginia study found that we may be genetically hard-wired to spot snakes. Shown a series of color photographs, both adults and children had an easier time spotting a snake among pictures of non-threatening images than a non-threatening object among pictures of snakes. The researchers also found that the same holds true for spiders, which is why these creepy crawlers freak us out so much.
He searched for “snake eating” on Youtube
Searching for “snake eating” on Youtube may make you never want to eat again. You’ll find an array of snake meals, from hippos to deer to eggs. The unique jaw structure of the snake allows it to swallow some enormous food. The lower jaw is unattached to the skull, only held on by muscles and tendons, allowing it to open as wide as 150 degrees. Once it traps the prey in its jaws, the snake creeps forward, pushing the food into its body, where muscles and digestive acids break it down. The knowledge that a particularly hungry snake could eat him was probably enough to turn Indy off the critters forever.
Comments (10)
Comment
Cool post…I just decided that I am done with my breakfast after that last pic, however.
posted by Christian on 4-11-2008 at 8:35 am
I love snakes. the movie, however was horrible! samuel jackson should be ashamed!
posted by Ella on 4-11-2008 at 8:48 am
Once, while at summer camp, I came upon a group of young girls (ages 7 - 10) staring at something by the archery path. When I asked what they were looking at, they stepped back and revealed a snake eating a frog. While snakes don’t really bother me (especially because none of them around here are poisonous), I thought it was especially awesome that a whole bunch of young girls thought it was cool, not terrifying or gross, to watch nature in action.
Upon relaying this story to my dad, though, he almost dissolved into hysterics. He hates snakes.
posted by Jess on 4-11-2008 at 9:12 am
I’ve always believed that the fear of snakes is inherent in humans. Where I live the only snakes we have are garter snakes, which are harmless. And as a kid we’d catch them, pick them up, etc., so I wasn’t scared of them. However any time I stumbled upon one (back as a kid or even now) something about seeing them slithering along always startled me. It would take my brain a second or two to catch up and realize ‘that thing=harmless’. Then I’d pick it up, throw it in a shoebox and have a pet for a few days before letting it go again.
No matter how many times I did this, that sight of the slither in my peripheral vision always gave me a brief freak out moment.
posted by EV on 4-11-2008 at 9:56 am
personally, I love snakes, I started handling poisonous ones at age 12 (before then it was only constrictors.) People really shouldn’t worry so much, even the poisonous ones aren’t out to get humans, for they are not particularly good to eat. Basically don’t scare them or tick them off and everything is chill.
They are a pretty aren’t they? although watching them eat takes some getting used to…
posted by Connie on 4-11-2008 at 10:01 am
Did you read that amazon.com, by selling the soundtrack to the new Indy movie, pretty much spoiled it completely? Boo.
Click my name for more info on Wired’s The Underwire blog.
posted by Katie D. on 4-11-2008 at 10:21 am
Just yesterday I discovered one of the creepiest snake videos I’ve ever beheld of a cobra and a small baby. I can only assume the snake was defanged, as it repeatedly strikes the child’s head. It’s the very end of the video that really sends chills, though.
Click my name to see it, if you dare.
posted by Johnny Cat on 4-11-2008 at 10:43 am
I am completely terrified of snakes. Even reading this post will creep me out for the rest of the day. In fact, my son and husband are going camping this afternoon, so I’ll probably worry over them all weekend just from reading this post. Ugh.
When my daughter was only 18 months old and we were out playing in the back yard, I saw a snake and ran into the house. I left her out with the snake. It took every ounce of my being to go back out and get her. I then tortured myself for months about being a horrible mother.
When I taught first grade, there was a company that came in and brought snakes, lizards, etc. into the school. I sat in the back, tears streaming down my face and forcing myself to breathe. I was humiliated and horrified at the same time.
Our last home had a concrete pad just outside the screened porch. Each year a black (so called harmless) snake would sun itself on the concrete. Each year I would open the door and almost step on the snake. I’d run in, lock the doors and refuse to let anyone outside for days.
I just cannot do snakes. No way - no how. I’m generally a sane and mostly normal person until I see a snake.
I know this is irrational fear and I can’t do a dang thing about it.
posted by Karen on 4-11-2008 at 11:25 am
I love snakes, too, and had many pet snakes as a farm kid — my sister and I used to delight in bringing them in from the fields and scaring our mother with them, but we would drape them over our shoulders and let them coil around our arms — no “inherent” fear whatsoever. They are gorgeous creatures. Anyway, I’m sorry to see them vilified. A fond memory from a “hippie” school my children attended back in the early 70s is of the mascot boa constrictor (named Chekhov) placidly coiling across the upper body of my 2-year-old daughter. She was delighted and giggled at the sensation. All the kids loved that snake. I think that psychologically, a fear of snakes is supposed to be linked with a fear of sex. Makes sense somehow.
posted by Dolly on 4-11-2008 at 11:59 am
ok that video with the baby vs. snake. was so weird. i like that the baby was like “i am going to get ya”. who would of known that a defanged cobra will keep your child so entertained. thanks for that video!!
posted by meta on 5-5-2008 at 10:41 am