Page 73 - An Anthology of Intriguing Animals (DK)
P. 73
Sometimes a large milk snake
will catch a smaller one and
swallow it whole.
Milk snake, North, Central,
and South America
P eople used to think that this striped snake drank milk from
cows. It doesn’t, but the common name “milk snake” has stuck.
It actually eats lizards, rats, and mice. Slithering through the grass,
it flicks its tongue in and out to collect smells. This is how it finds
exactly where its prey is. The milk snake doesn’t have venom to kill
with, so it gulps prey down while it’s still alive.
These sneaky snakes have a cunning defense, too. Their red,
black, and white pattern copies the deadly coral snake, which has
powerful venom. Other animals are tricked into thinking the milk
snake is dangerous, so they leave it alone.
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