Snakes: Evolutionary Marvels!
“I just don’t like them.”
“They look creepy.”
“I hate them.”
“I’m scared to death of them.”
“They are the most evil creatures on Earth.”
These are actual responses I’ve been given concerning one of my favorite animals. Whether those attending the many nature walks I lead or simply individuals contacting me to identify what they’ve encountered, when I say how much I like and appreciate snakes, I invariably get some version of these answers from the majority of folks. There is no single group of animals that evokes such a reaction among people in this region. I had someone tell me, as a point of fact, it was due to snakes being cursed after the infamous Garden of Eden incident. But, you know me well enough to know I’m going to look a little deeper into the culture and ecology of it.
This subject came up with fellow anthropologists at a conference once and neither of us thought that a tale from the bible explained fully the image of snakes in human culture or the root of any negative image of snakes by humans. Many cultures around the world and throughout human history have, in fact, seen snakes as less than desirable. This is far from a rule of thumb; however, as there are many cultures that view snakes in very positive ways.
Greek mythology tells of Asclepius, the god of healing and medicine. Asclepius, the son of the god, Apollo, was raised by a centaur and taught the art of healing. While a phenomenal student, it wasn’t until a snake whispered the deepest secrets of medicine in his ear that Asclepius became legendary among both mortals and gods alike for his ability to diagnose and to heal. According to the Greek tales, snakes were revered for being keepers of the knowledge of medicine, wisdom, and even resurrection. They were sacred creatures in Greek culture and far from the bane of all creation they are portrayed as in much of American culture. Even in modern times, we see the Rod of Asclepius used as a symbol of healing. The logo of the American Medical Association is that of a staff entwined by a snake, tracing the origins of medicine back to the myth of Asclepius. This particular topic will come back up when we discuss milkweeds in the coming installments, as we tie species together (even those you may not think are related).
Also, as another aside, there are some medical establishments and groups using a logo with a staff with two snakes display a caduceus, belonging to Mercury (or Hermes, depending on which tale you read). The mix up with the staffs may go back to the practice of alchemy. The staff with two snakes, or caduceus, appears to have been adopted by US military medical corps in the early years of the 20th Century; but the AMA logo is the staff of Asclepius. This also seems to be something that only occurs in America, as the rest of the world pretty uniformly uses the staff of Asclepius for medical practices, not the caduceus of Mercury (or Hermes).
Have snakes always been seen as vile and putrid in America? The answer to that question is, quite simply, “No”. Several Native American cultures have stories of snakes being administers of justice, immortality, and transformation. Various First Nations’ tales depict the Lightning Snake, He’-e-tlik, as an enforcer of Nature’s Moral Code. Should anyone forsake the rules of proper hunting or fishing, or should they needlessly harm or kill any animal, He’-e-tlik would disfigure them. He’-e-tlik was so powerful that he was the constant companion of the Thunderbird, Tootooch. Tootooch, the most powerful creature to have ever lived, hunted Orcas by unleashing his friend, the Lightning Snake, upon them. He’-e-tlik was indeed well respected by those residing in northwestern North American.
In the American southwest, The Pima depict the rattlesnake as the most gentle and meek animal on earth, calling him Soft Child. One version of the Pima tale says all creatures were given the chance to decide what gifts they would be given by the Sky Spirit to protect themselves. While some chose claws, teeth and cunning, the rattlesnake only asked for a way to let others know he was there, since he was low and could be easily stepped upon. The Sky Spirit, in granting his wish, gave the rattlesnake its well-known rattle as a warning to the other animals. Unfortunately, the rattlesnake was so meek that some of the other animals mocked him and poked fun at him nonstop. One animal in particular, the rabbit, would always seek out the rattlesnake to tease him.
Seeing the way the rattlesnake was treated, the Sky Spirit came down one evening and visited with him. In an effort to level the playing field, the Sky Spirit gave the rattlesnake fangs tipped with lightning bolts, knowing the snake would only use them as a last resort. The next day, the rabbit came poking and kicking the rattlesnake until he could no longer take it. No matter how much the snake rattled and warned the rabbit, the teasing did not cease. In less time than it takes to blink an eye, the rattlesnake struck the rabbit with his lightning fangs and killed him. To this day, the rattlesnake is so gentle and meek that it will always rattle to warn that it is there, in the hopes it doesn't have to use the lightning bolt fangs it has.
Clearly, not all cultures painted snakes in a negative light; with many having great respect for them. What about how we respond of snakes? Where does that come from? For that answer, we’re going to have to go back much farther than the 10,000 years that saw early North American settlers and the rise of ancient Greece. For that answer, we’re going to have to go back about 80 million years ago, before primates diverged into the suborders Haplorrhini and Strepsirrhini.
Our ancestors were tree-dwellers and their biggest predator predated them by about 40 million years. Snakes have made a very good living hanging out in trees and eating whatever they can get in their mouths. Stealthy hunters, snakes are extremely adept at sneaking up to primates and preying upon them. Even today, snakes continue to hunt and eat primates. Our ancestors had to develop an acute awareness and ability to locate danger, such as a reptilian predator.
Recent studies have shown that primates have a much more acutely developed recognition of snakes. The pulvinar portion of the primate brain, which is responsible for receiving and processing signals from the eyes, has 91 extra, highly developed neurons when compared to other mammal pulvinar. These extra neurons are responsible for directing our attention, such as recognizing and being alerted to the presence of a snake. It allows us to recognize and spot the shape of a snake in our surroundings. Individuals with damaged pulvinar portions of their brains have increased difficulty focusing and become distracted with little or no reason. On a side note, I really could’ve used that excuse as a child when I couldn’t sit still in class or didn’t pay attention at home. “But I have a damaged pulvinar!”
When studied, primates have shown instantaneous recognition of snakes. Further reinforcing this instinctual response is linked to specific recognition is that it’s even seen in primates that were raised in labs. These primates had never seen a live snake before the experiment. With further research, it was proven the reaction to snakes is not learned, but is hardwired from our primate ancestors. It is a perceptual bias; that is, we recognize the shape and presence of snakes faster than other objects in our environment. Even those of us without an irrational fear of snakes have similar pulvinar responses.
You’ll notice this is the first mention I’ve made of fear. Living in the lower piedmont, people have scant reason to fear snakes. There are 38 species of snakes in SC, with only 6 of those being venomous. The 6 venomous snakes found in SC are: coral snake, copperhead, eastern cottonmouth, pygmy rattlesnake, canebrake (timber) rattlesnake, and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Of those 6, only 3 are fatal to healthy adults: the coral snake, canebrake rattlesnake and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Copperhead and eastern cottonmouth bites may be fatal to very young, old, or those with compromised immune systems. The last time I checked, there are no recorded human fatalities due to the bite of a pygmy rattlesnake. All snakebites that could occur in South Carolina are treatable, with quick and proper medical attention.
Since 2010, there have been 25 fatalities linked to venomous snakebites in the United States. Two of those fatalities were caused by nonnative exotic pets, a Monocled Cobra and a Black Mamba. Seven others of were due to improper and careless handling; one by someone attempting to determine the sex of the snake and four were during snake handling religious ceremonies. Just one fatality has been reported in South Carolina in over 90 years and that was a good friend and colleague, Wayne Grooms. Wayne was hiking at the Cuddho Unit of Santee NWR and, while walking along an area of riprap along the Lake Marion Shore, he was bitten by a Canebrake (Timber) Rattlesnake. Wayne was 71; but had a couple of health issues. He passed away within 15 minutes of being bitten, which is EXTREMELY FAST AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL for a snakebite from a Canebrake (Timber) Rattlesnake.
As a comparison, according to NOAA there was an average of 26 deaths each year related to lightning strikes in the United States from 2010 - 2019. That’s more people each year from lightning strikes than in the last 11 years from snakebites. So, you are far more likely to die from a lightning strike than from a snakebite!
Yet, with the likelihood of a fatal snakebite being so low, people still fear and hate snakes. Perhaps it's the way snakes move. Slithering around on their bellies, their locomotion is alien to us. We identify with animals that walk. Though they once had legs, vestigial pelvic spurs prominent in large snakes show the remnants of a pelvis and femur bones, snakes left walking behind in favor of burrowing, utilizing smaller spaces, and even swimming more efficiently. Admittedly, watching a snake as it crawls along the ground or swimming in the water gives pause. But, that is no justification for the level of hatred leveled at snakes.
Six states still host “rattlesnake roundups”. Atrocities and circuses woefully disguised as educational events to teach, these roundups are nothing more than public butchering of rattlesnakes on a wholesale level. Last year, at a roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, an appalling 3,900 pounds of rattlesnakes were slaughtered in the name of tourism and festivities. For a period of weeks or even months, rattlesnakes are flushed out by spraying noxious gasoline in their burrows and are gathered in drums and barrels. When the roundup comes around, the snakes are paraded around, killed, and skinned for those in attendance. Claiming they are trying to reduce the possibilities for snakebites, people with little or no education in natural history search far and wide for animals that pose little threat to them. Most carry guns for protection; lest the snakes they are harassing and capturing attempt to protect themselves. Now, if you’re looking for the most evil creature on earth, may I nominate zealous, uneducated people with guns out hunting for rattlesnakes?
This was, as last week with owls, and introduction to the myth and even the physiology of snakes, as well as how humans and primates process being around snakes. In our next visit, we’ll take a closer look at a few of the 38 snake species found in South Carolina. With any luck, by the time we’re done, you will all see that snakes are not vicious beasts out to kill you. Instead, they are incredibly interesting, even beautiful, animals that aren’t deserving of fear and demonization. They are, however, deserving of respect and conservation.