I was petting a milk snake at the zoo, and it felt slimy. i thought reptiles were usually dry and scaly and amphibians are the slimy ones
2006-10-16 10:25:50 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
You are right that snakes have dry skin. This particular specimen might have been wet/moist because of some substance from its habitat, or perhaps the very smooth and shiny scales that are typical of milksnakes* and the body movement gave you the slimy sensation.
The skin of a live snake has a unique feel to it; even those with keeled scales feel very smooth to the touch.
* Milksnakes belong to genus Lampropeltis, from Greek 'lampros' (= shiny or beautiful), and 'pelte' (= shield).
From: http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/herps/lamp-zon.html
2006-10-16 13:27:46 · answer #1 · answered by Calimecita 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Eww, you are right snakes do not feel slimy at all... they are dry and smooth. The only explanation I can concieve of is that the snake was releasing a liquid usually called musk(I think) which is used to make predators drop them because it tastes awful... it is similar to a toad peeing on you. It has happened to me a couple times when I picked up wild snakes and the liquid really stinks and makes the snake seem slimy. That may have been what happened to you, the snake might have been threatened by so much handling and released its musk.... Thats the only reason I can think of because snakes aren't normally slimy.
2006-10-16 20:33:10 · answer #2 · answered by Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Snakes should not feel slimy. I don't know what might have caused that except maybe some fungus or something. Snakes are soft and feel very nice, or they should. I'd guess that it might either have been sick, or maybe it just got out of the water? I'm clutching at straws here. None of my snakes ever felt slimy.
2006-10-16 17:36:44 · answer #3 · answered by Shadow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
maybe the snake was held by too many sweaty handed people that were afraid to hold the snake. No snake I have ever handled felt slimy at all
2006-10-16 18:41:18 · answer #4 · answered by ken_liddle 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Snakes never feel slimy. You might have imagined that.
2006-10-16 23:07:02 · answer #5 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
snakes are slimy because they have like built in moisturiser
2006-10-16 17:31:40 · answer #6 · answered by Me + Me = BANG! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it's easier for them to move around. Imagine if they had rough surfaces, they would always be rubbing their bellies against the ground.
2006-10-16 17:29:11 · answer #7 · answered by icez 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋