These iridescently scaled boas, endemic to Cuba, are the largest snakes in the Caribbean, according to the Lake District Wildlife Park. Weighing over 66 pounds (30 kilograms) and reaching up to 18.5 feet (5.65 m) long, according to researchers publishing in the journal Reptiles & Amphibians— some reports claim they can grow to more than 19.6 feet (6 m) — Cuban boas ( Chilabothrus angulifer) spend much of their time coiled around tree branches or scouting for lizards and rodents on the ground. King cobras are the longest venomous snakes in the world. (Image credit: Pierre von Rahmel via Getty Images)

The I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! cast are at risk of suffering fever, kidney failure and even death due to the dangerous animals that roam free in the wilds of the Australian bush, an expert has revealed. Banded Kraits can be seen in diverse habitats, ranging from forests to agricultural lands and open countryside plains. They often live near human settlements, especially villages, because of the large supply of rodents and water. Burmese pythons ( Python bivittatus) are one of 41 python species worldwide. Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia and start life in trees, but by adulthood their size forces them down to the ground. The largest recorded Burmese python was a captive snake named Baby, which measured 18.8 feet (5.74 m) long, according to Guinness World records. In the wild, these snakes regularly stretch to over 16 feet (4.9 m) long — large enough to hunt alligators. Although it’s non-venomous, its bite can cause pain and inflammation. A mild pain medication or anti-inflammatory drug will help, but it’s best to avoid a bite from this species! Fonseka, Chathuranga Lakmal, et al. " Life Threatening Intracerebral Haemorrhage Following Saw-Scaled Viper ( Echis carinatus) Envenoming-Authenticated Case Report from Sri Lanka." BMC Emergency Medicine, vol. 13, 2013, pp. 5., doi:10.1186/1471-227X-13-5Even though it is nonvenomous, the Indian Wolf Snake defends itself aggressively by biting with its sharp fangs. It can leave deep, painful puncture wounds and lacerations. Another important defense of the Indian Wolf Snake is its ability to fake death. Individuals will lie completely motionless until the danger has passed. Giant snakes weren’t confined to land: Earth’s prehistoric seas also contained leviathans, such as Palaeophis colossaeus. This sea serpent traversed an ancient ocean that once lay over parts of North Africa 100 million years ago. When its fossilized skeleton was discovered in the present-day Sahara desert, researchers calculated from samples subsequently collected during field trips in 1999 and 2003 that this species would have reached over 39 feet (12 m) long, according to research published in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. That makes it the lengthiest sea snake ever found — and one of the longest known snakes, period. Oriental Whipsnakes are mildly venomous, but the toxins are not strong enough to hurt humans. If you see one, observe from a respectful distance, but you don’t need to rush away.

The Burmese Python is an excellent swimmer and climber, using its prehensile tail to grip branches as it moves through trees. They can remain underwater for up to 30 minutes but spend most of their time on land. Because of poaching, habitat destruction, and egg hunting for trade, Burmese Pythons are listed as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN in their native range. Burmese Pythons are often sold as pets since they have attractive color morphs and an easygoing disposition. Snakes have just four main movements. Sidewinding is when a snake thrusts its head violently to one side and forward which forces the rest of the body to follow, and repeats this in the other direction. The well-known maneuver entitled “Serpentine” is about when snakes stay in a constant side-to-side motion to keep propelling their bodies forward. Some snakes pull their bodies into a bent shape and then straighten out to move forward, which is called Concertina. Another motion is in mimicry of caterpillars, how they contract and expand their bodies to inch forward slowly. You’ll find Saw-scaled Vipers in shrublands and deserts. They like to rest inside burrows and fallen logs during the day. They feed on rodents, lizards, scorpions, and centipedes at night. When it rains, adults scramble up to higher trees, shrubs, and cacti.There are more than 3,000 species of snakes on the planet and they’re found everywhere except in Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand. About 600 species are venomous, and only about 200—seven percent—are able to kill or significantly wound a human. Reticulated pythons are the longest snakes that live on Earth today. (Image credit: Paul Starosta/Getty Images)

Laustsen, Andreas H., et al. " Danger in the Reef: Proteome, Toxicity, and Neutralization of the Venom of the Olive Sea Snake, Aipysurus laevis." Toxicon, vol. 107, pt. B, 2015, pp. 187-196., doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.07.008 Interestingly, the venom of hatchlings is as potent as the adults’. The babies are brightly marked, but these colors often fade as they mature. In addition, they are often nervous and alert, which makes them highly aggressive if disturbed. There are two morphs, both with the same apparent coloring and pattern. The only difference is the coloring between the scales, which is visible when the snake puffs out its body in a defensive move. The “typical” morph has silvery blue coloring between its scales (pictured above), while the second morph’s coloring is a vibrant red. While modern-day snakes can reach incredible sizes,: prehistoric snakes beat most of these present-day records. Gigantophis garstini, for example, was a hefty beast that slithered around about 40 million years ago on a body that researchers estimate was anywhere between 23 and 32 feet (7 - 10 m) long, according to a PLOS blog post. The Russell’s Viper avoids dense forests and humid environments, such as marshes, swamps, and rainforests. Instead, look for this species in open, grassy areas, farmland, and forested plantations. This species is also often found in highly urban areas and settlements in the countryside. They are attracted to human habitation because of the rodents in these areas.Their coloring is yellow, tan, or brown, with three vertical series of dark brown spots along the length of the body. Most snakes lay eggs, but some species—like sea snakes—give live birth to young. Very few snakes pay any attention to their eggs, with the exception of pythons, which incubate their eggs. This species is arboreal, so it usually lives in forest edge habitats such as parklands, rural agricultural areas, and wooded residential areas. It’s also a diurnal snake, so the best place to find one is sunbathing or hunting during the day. They eat small nesting birds, lizards, and tree frogs.