>> The “kingsnake” name refers to the fact that other snakes, including venomous species, are a principle food source for the kingsnake. They also eat rodents, lizards, birds and eggs, and turtle eggs.

Species data Racer snakes on Galapagos are constrictors and only mildly venomous. They are known to prey on lava lizards, geckos, insects, iguanas, mice, rats and hatchlings of several bird species.

Racers mostly hunt for small mammals and reptiles, such as Lava Lizards, Grasshoppers, Geckos and of course baby Marine Iguanas. Unlike mammals, snakes don’t chew their food. Instead they to swallow their prey whole, digesting bones and all.

If you cut the tail off of a snake, (provided you only cut the tail off and none of the organs or major nerves in the spinal cord,) the snake could survive the injury as long as the bleeding is stopped.

The direct entry of venom into the blood would have the same effect on the snake as it would on its prey. In a nutshell, a snake can commit suicide by biting itself, provided that it bites itself in such a way that the venom directly enters the bloodstream.

Bite. Just two drops of potent black mamba venom can kill a human, according to South Africa’s Kruger National Park. “Like cobras and coral snakes, the venom of a black mamba contains neurotoxins,” Viernum told Live Science.

Black mamba

The fastest snake happens to be the black mamba. The black mamba can travel up to 12 mph in short bursts, which is faster than humans. Not only is this snake speedy, but it is usually regarded as one of the deadliest snakes out there.

There’s a little myth that snakes can outrun humans. However, the worlds fastest snake is probably the Black Mamba, which has been timed at just over 11 kilometres per hour – which is not much faster than your average walking speed of 8 kph.