Why do people think snakes are slippery?

Question

I always wondered this....

Answer 1

Because they're too afraid to touch one. I worked as a docent for years and carrying around and introducing snakes to people was a lot of fun and an educational experience for many people. They were surprised they weren't slimy and wet. For many people it was quite an epiphany.

Answer 2

A lot of people have never actually handled a snake, perhaps because they are afraid of them or just because they've never had the opportunity. So they don't actually know what they feel like. Snakes also have a very shiny appearance to them, and the fact that they are so smooth can make people think that they are slippery.

Answer 3

Quite a few species of snakes (like rainbow boas, water moccasins, numerous water snakes, etc.) have scales that partially refract the light. This gives an iridescent sheen to the scales and makes the body of a snake appear to be wet, even though it isn't. When a person who is unfamiliar with snakes sees this iridescence, they assume that the snake is covered with water or some kind of mucus, and thus are reluctant to touch a "slimy" snake. In reality snakes are very dry and their scales feel similar to plastic or fingernails.

Answer 4

because they look shiny giving the impression of being slippery and as most people have never handled a snake before they assume that they are slippery.

Answer 5

i used to think that to i think its because of the way one moves,they have slippery look 2 them ,but i got one for a pet and fond out their not slippery at all.

Answer 6

Probably because they don't know what they feel like and they think they live in a wet area like a swamp. I don't think they are slippery because I hold them all the time.

Answer 7

lack of knowledge inspires fear. most ppl do not know that snakes are not as bad as the stories describe them.
snakes' skin aren't actually very smooth, but they appear from far and because of the way snakes crawl, people think they have a sticky sorta skin and are therfore slippery.
i suggest we all spread the word!

Answer 8

because they're shiny, and they've held worms which are the same shape and are slippery.

Answer 9

because they look so shiny and the way they slide across things.i didn;t know that they weren;t.i used to be scared of them;but now i love em,i wish i had one for a pet;a corn snake or something small and not deadly,,,,,,...,.,.LOL#

Answer 10

i think it because they feel silkly and silk is slippery! love them myself never been scared of them