Perhaps no creature has been as feared, mythologized, or misunderstood as the snake. The Snake Almanac reveals that the truths about these reptiles are as fascinating as the fictions. There are more than 2,000 species of snakes, and The Snake Almanac gives up close looks at some of the most beautiful, bizarre, and deadly - such as the gliding snake, which can "fly" from trees with the help of skin flaps along its sides, or the hognose snake, which plays dead when threatened, or the powerfully venomous black mamba. Beginning with the snake"s evolution, Edward R. Ricciuti goes on to cover the anatomy of snakes and how they move, hunt, eat, breed, and perceive the world around them. He gives a global survey of snakebites - why, when, and where they occur, and the fallacies about treating bites - and examines humankind"s attitudes toward snakes, from reviling them as the devil incarnate to revering them as gods. Full of lush illustrations, fact-filled tables and sidebars, and entertaining anecdotes from Ricciuti"s experiences as a snake owner and observer, The Snake Almanac is a must-have for anyone interested in nature"s legless wonders. (81/4 X 101/4, 228 pages, color photos, b&w photos, illustrations, tables)