9781422278659

CHAPTER 3

Throughout time, different cultures have used snakes as symbols of evil. They are featured as the bad guys in myths, legends and even modern stories—and it’s not surprising. Snakes slither. They slide. They hiss. They move without legs and have expressionless reptilian faces. The excessive fear of snakes is known as “ophidiophobia,” and it’s one of the most common phobias in the world. FEAR OF SNAKES

Snakes have been around much longer than humans—and some used to be monster sized! The gigantic Titanoboa weighed over a ton and measured a whopping 2,205 lbs. (1 ton). Fortunately for us, it existed 58 million years ago. Like modern-day pythons and boas, the Titanoboa killed its prey by squeezing it. You wouldn’t want to see one of these slithering around your backyard!

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