Female snakes leave scent trails to help males find them. Snakes benefit mankind by eating rats and crop-destroying pests. The staff of Asklepios, the ancient Greek god of healing, is the symbol of doctors. The snake wrapped around the staff stands for good health and long life. Quetzalcoatl, the snake god of the Aztecs of ancient Mexico, was the highest of all their gods.
Many snakes seek shelter from the winter weather by holding up in dens.
Sometimes hundreds of snakes will occupy the same den. Of the more than 2,700 different kinds of snakes in the world, only about 400 are venomous to some degree. All snakes are carnivorous. A snake's eyes appear cloudy several days before they shed their skin. Snakes have backbones, just like human beings.