Salaysay

"it's a busy world" (this one, we've got to believe!) 07/28/2010 “IT’S A BUSY WORLD” (THIS ONE, WE'VE GOT TO BELIEVE!) WORLD OBSERVES "WORLD SNAKE DAY” By Allyssa Mae A. Tuazon WE’VE GOT TO BELIEVE THIS… BUT YES, THERE IS A “WORLD SNAKE DAY”! But why is it that there is no “World Horse Day”, or even a “World Buffalo Day” (or “Water Buffalo” or “Carabao”, as it is called in the Philippines)? And why is it that there is no designated special day to give a most deserved international attention and importance to what is universally recognized as “man’s best and most faithful friend”, the DOG? Well and good that there is a “World Cat Day” (August 8) to appease cat lovers all over the world. But, again, why is it that there is only a “National Teddy Bear Day” (September 9) for this incredibly cute, lovable, cuddly and "huggable" creature? Indeed, why is it that a special day was designated every year to give international attention to -- of all creatures in this big, wide, wild world -- SNAKES? Well, again, we’ve got to believe it. It’s because of the rats! These lowly, despicable underground creatures are the major reason for the designation of this special day of the snakes! Because snakes largely prey on rodents and insects which are harmful to food crops or carry disease which can affect humans and beneficial plants and animals, they (snakes) help the environment by keeping the mice and rat population down. Since mice breed rapidly, it is highly possible that we would be overrun by them if snakes were not around. And so, to highlight the vital contributions of snakes in controlling the rodent populations and in maintaining ecological balance, “World Snake Day” has been designated and observed on July 20 each year. The event also provides an opportunity for all to know that these "elegant and beautiful creatures", whose venom is removed for use in treating certain diseases and in making antivenin for snakebites, are not all dangerous to humans and that those that are, would generally rather escape than attack. Snakes can be found throughout the world and the only place where there are no snakes is the Arctic region. They are such adaptable creatures that they live in deserts, cities, oceans, lakes, forests, rain-forests, and almost everywhere else. The initial instinct of many to kill every snake they come across, along with the destruction of their thriving natural habitats, is leading to a troubling decrease of the world’s snake population. In recent years, researchers show that one in five snake species are threatened. There are many places where snakes that are not native to the area have been introduced, and now they are thriving. In many cases, this has proved to be a real challenge to the natural ecosystem as the new snakes push other species. There are also snake species breeding in areas where they do not belong because careless owners faced with snakes they cannot handle let them loose. These kinds of actions can have fatal consequences. -o-0-o- MOST VENOMOUS SNAKES IN THE WORLD Snakes are included in the category of reptiles. There are more than 2,900 species of snakes spread all over the world, out of them, about 600 species are known to be venomous. A venomous snake has highly specialized teeth such as hollow fangs, through which it delivers the venom. It is meant for self-defense and prey immobilization. A bite of a venomous snake quickly affects different organs including the lungs, heart, central nervous system, red blood cells and muscles. There are three types of venom such as neurotoxic, hemotoxic and myotoxic. Some of the most venomous snakes in the world are Taipan, Krait, Philippine Cobra, King Cobra, Russell’s Viper, Black Mamba, Yellow-jawed Tommy Goff, Western Brown Snake, Tiger Snake and the banded sea-snake. + -- Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus): It is one of the most venomous and deadliest snakes in the world. There are three main sub-species of Taipan such as Papuan Taipan (Oxyuranus s. canni), Western or Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus Microlepidotus) or (Fierce Snake) and Common or Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus Scutellatus). + -- Krait: This highly poisonous snake is found in Asia. It appears black or bluish-black in color with a white narrow cross-bands and a narrow head. Its average length is about 90cms. It is more active at night than during the day. It is 15 times more deadly than the common cobra. Its venom is a powerful neurotoxin, which causes the respiratory failure. + -- King cobra: It is the world’s largest venomous snake. Its average length is about 3.5 meters and it can be maximum 5.5 meters long. It appears uniformly brown, olive or green in color with black cross-bands. King cobra is commonly found in Southern China, Thailand, Philippines, South India and Malaysia Peninsula. Its venom is a neurotoxin type. + -- Russell’s viper: Russell’s viper is more commonly found in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysian Peninsula, Southern China, Sumatra, Java, Borneo and surrounding islands. It has a light brown body with three rows of black or brown splotches having white or yellow border. Its average length is about 1 meter. It is responsible for relatively more human deaths than any other types of venomous snake. Its venom is of hemotoxin type, which is a powerful coagulant, causing damage to blood cells and tissues. + -- Black Mamba: It is Africa’s most feared venomous snake. It is found in Africa’s open woodlands and African savannas. It is highly toxic and notoriously aggressive. Its venom is a powerful neurotoxin. It appears uniformly black or brown. Its average length is about 4.3 meters. Its mouth has a black internal lining. It is known as the world’s fastest land snake with the top speed of 16-19 km/hr. + -- Tiger snake: It is olive or dark brown in color with olive or yellowish belly and cross-bands. Its subspecies are found in Victoria and Tasmania and it is uniformly black. Its average length is about 1.2 to 1.8 meters. It is one of the most venomous snakes found in Australia. It is also found in New Guinea, Tasmania and Bass Strait Islands. Its venom is a potent neurotoxin that affects the central nervous system. It produces venom in high quantities, with an average yield of about 35 mg to 180 mg. + -- Western Brown Snake (Pseudonaja nuchalis): It is found in the grasslands, forests, deserts and gravelly plains. It is a native of Australia. It has a narrow black head and black neck. It may be black or light brown in color with narrow dark crossbars or a series of lighter bands around the body. It is about 1.5 meters in length. Its venom is neurotoxic. -o-0-o- WORLD’S LARGEST SNAKE The largest snake in the world recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records is the Reticulated Python. Some people think the Anaconda, which is in the Boa family is the largest snake in the world. That snake is not as long but thought to be stouter. The largest Reticulated Python ever recorded was almost 33 feet long and weighed close to 350 pounds. The Reticulated Pythons live throughout Southeast Asia in tropical rainforests. The snake needs to live near water where there are temperatures of 80-92 degrees every day. The Reticulated Python gets its name from its own complex geometric pattern of diamond shapes, which are in a “netlike” pattern. The head is unmarked, helping in identification of the snake. Females are larger than males. The largest Reticulated Python ever in captivity was a female weighing 320 pounds with a length of 28.5 feet, who lived at the Pittsburgh Zoo. This python often lives to be 25 years old in captivity. Reticulated Pythons hunt primarily by waiting in ambush for their prey, most often in trees. They usually feed on mammals and birds, but have been known to eat pigs, dogs, deer and even a human being. As babies, these snakes feed on rats but by the time they are ten feet long, they are eating wild pigs, mouse deer, monkeys and porcupines. Adult species have over one hundred teeth with which to hold their prey while constricting. -o-0-o- SNAKES AS PETS + -- The “Corn Snakes” The Corn snakes, which are often mistaken for copperheads, are very popular as pets. They are the most frequently bred snake species for pet purposes. However they are sometimes captured in the wild to be sold as pets. Corn snakes are the members of a group of snakes referred to as "collubirds", which are found in every part of the world except in Antarctica. However, Corn snakes are found only in North America. Corn snakes belong to the genus “Elaphe” and to the species “Elaphe guttata”. The Latin word “Elaphe” means deerskin and the word “guttata” means spotted or speckled. They are categorized under these species because the Corn snakes’ skin feels like finely tanned deerskin, while the patterns on their back create speckles or spots. The corn snakes are reptiles, but are not among the pythons, rattle, water, coral, or the cobra snake. They are not poisonous, but are constrictors. As mentioned earlier, they are often bred to be pets. + -- The “Eastern Garter Snake” The Eastern Garter Snake is a medium sized Minnesota snake measuring 14 to 48 inches in length. It is non-venomous and some specimens can be less docile than the plains garter snake. There are two subspecies of the eastern garter snake that are found in Minnesota. The eastern garter snake, "Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis", usually has white, mint green, orange or red on the skin between the scales, usually only visible when the skin is stretched such as after a large meal. The red-sided garter snake, "Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis", is very similar differing only by the presence of bold red bars or spots on the sides between the dorsal and lateral scales. This red coloration is usually visible without any stretching of the skin. Both of these subspecies are also called "common garter snakes". One could attract and raise these garter snakes as pets in one’s garden, by providing shelter for them. Since these snakes eat almost anything, it's habitat that they need. Shrubbery and tall grass will do, but they especially like rock piles or wood piles. They also like to warm themselves on sidewalks, stepping stones, or large rocks if these are placed under the sun. -o-0-o-

name	datestamp	comment	rating
Tito Laya Nisperos Jr.	8/6/2010 8:59:41 PM	Allyssa Mae, nagmayat manen daytoy a topic mo maipuon iti ul-uleg. Uray idi ubingak adda fascunation ko iti uret da, nagpipintas ti color da nga maki-blend kadagiti ruruot, ken bulbulong. Adu ti ma-estoryak ngem padasek to laengen nga isurat iti maysa a Salaysay nga Ilocano, a pag-practice'san. Daytoy la ti maisalaysay ko ditoy a padas daydi Father ko idi Hunter pay la isuna. Naminsan, aduda a nagkukuyog nga pinsarda nga ag-hunting iti bilbillit, ugsa ken alingo. Idi nabannogda, nagsardingda ta kayatda ti agluto iti makanda. Adda nakitada a kasla napintas ti color na nga bato wenno kasla earthen ware nga nadamile nga kasla balukutsa ti sukogna. Nangalada iti dua pay a bato sada insimpa diay sangwanan ti napintas a bato. Intuonda idiay ti bangada, idiay tallo a batbato nga insimpada a kasla triangle. Manarimaan nga agap-apoy diay ilutlutoda idi agkuti metten daydiay napintas a bato ket napattog diay lutlutuenda. Beklat gayam a matmaturog diay napintas a bato! Aduda a nangkemmeg diay beklat. Kakaasi met piman diay beklat a rinangrangkayda a nagbibingayan. Nakakaasi a beklat!	5
Angel Rizalina Abaya Garcia	8/1/2010 12:55:46 AM	Allyssa, adingko, takot ako sa ahas, lalo nung napanood ko 'yong pelikula na may Anaconda na pagkalaki-laki! Akala ko nga 'yon na ang pinakamalaki na ahas, yon pala meron pang mas malaki! Maganda at marami akong natutunan sa article mong ito tungkol sa mga ahas. Thank you, ading!	5
Agosto A. Madarang	7/30/2010 2:45:35 PM	As always, you have offered us a very informative, relevant and well-researched article here, Ms. Tuazon. I don't mind saying this, but I personally think you are one of the most accomplished and engaging writers here at our website. Keep coming!	5
Jonalyn Galimba Austria	7/30/2010 2:29:59 AM	Insan, thank for this very nice and informative article. You know, we used to have a pet snake while we were still residing in Kidapawan but when we transferred here in Metro Manila, we turned it over to a private zoo somewhere in Davao City. Actually it was my brother's pet... and I never understood why he took pleasure in having a snake for a pet... but now that I have read your article, maybe he had good reasons after all. Again, thanks for sharing this article with us, Insan!	5
Joker Castro Santamaria	7/29/2010 6:41:09 PM	Allyssa, yes, I've got to believe it! And may I ask, do snakes eat flowers? Cause if they do, I would like to give them roses -- just like these five red, red roses which I'm offering you for this very informative and very interesting article!	5
Christia R. Tobias	7/29/2010 6:21:45 AM	Sis Allyssa, this article is an eye-opener, at least to me. For I never thought that these slimy, seemingly dreadful creatures are in fact necessary or beneficial agents in the maintenance of "ecological balance" in our environment and that some species could even be domesticated and raised as pets! However, I think I will stick to cats and love birds as my pets. In any case, thank you very much for this very informative, well-researched article, sis!	5
Laramie Dario Gracia	7/28/2010 9:38:26 PM	This, I've got to believe it, sis! A "World Day of the Snake"? And a snake for a pet? Well, I don't know, sis, but maybe, just maybe, I will try to have one as a pet... someday! Hehehe	5