A spitting cobra wards off a threat.


WORDWISE


constrictor: a snake that kills animals by squeezing them until they can’t breathe, and they die


fang: a long, sharp tooth; snakes use their fangs to bite and inject venom into their prey


scale: a form of thickened skin that contains keratin


venom: a poisonous liquid that some snakes inject into their prey


Protective Moves It may be hard to imagine, but some animals prey on snakes. To avoid being eaten, some snakes have adapted movements to protect themselves. One snake releases its venom in a unique way. T e spitting cobra in Africa spits venom at a predator’s eyes. Some snakes make aggressive noises.


T ey huff , puff , or hiss loudly to scare away predators. T e North American eastern diamondback rattlesnake moves its tail. T e rattling sends people and animals running. Still other snakes move in aggressive


ways. When faced with danger, the king cobra raises its body and fl ares its hood. T en it makes a fierce hiss that sounds like a growling dog. Snakes have adapted to move in many


ways to help them survive. T ey move from place to place. T ey move to catch prey, and they move to protect themselves.


9


A king cobra rears up to scare a predator.


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