Questions About Snakes (Serpentes, Order: Squamata)
Multiple-Choice Questions: Snakes (Squamata)
Structure, Function, Reproduction, Classification, and Ecology
1. Snakes belong to which suborder within the order Squamata?
A) Lacertilia
B) Testudines
C) Serpentes
D) Crocodilia
E) Amphisbaenia
2. What is a defining feature that distinguishes snakes from lizards?
A) Cold-blooded metabolism
B) External ears
C) Eyelids
D) Absence of limbs
E) Ability to swim
3. The forked tongue of a snake primarily functions to:
A) Smell the air
B) Regulate temperature
C) Produce venom
D) Assist in digestion
E) Clean the eyes
4. The Jacobson’s organ in snakes is used for:
A) Digestion
B) Auditory detection
C) Thermoregulation
D) Chemoreception
E) Respiration
5. Which structure allows snakes to consume prey larger than their head?
A) Crop
B) Hinged teeth
C) Dislocatable jaw
D) Stomach lining
E) Forked tongue
6. Most snakes reproduce through:
A) Budding
B) Binary fission
C) External fertilization
D) Internal fertilization
E) Parthenogenesis only
7. What term describes snakes that give birth to live young?
A) Oviparous
B) Ovoviviparous
C) Viviparous
D) Metamorphic
E) Ectothermic
8. The scales on the underside of a snake are important for:
A) Heat absorption
B) Breathing
C) Locomotion
D) Water retention
E) Mating
9. How do snakes hear if they lack external ears?
A) Through their tongue
B) Via vibrations through the jawbone
C) By echolocation
D) Through nostril movement
E) With lateral line organs
10. Which of the following snakes is venomous?
A) Python
B) Boa
C) King cobra
D) Rat snake
E) Green tree python
11. The fangs of venomous snakes are primarily used to:
A) Chew food
B) Inject digestive enzymes
C) Defend against predators only
D) Paralyze and kill prey
E) Remove old skin
12. What is the main purpose of snake venom?
A) To regulate metabolism
B) To help with skin shedding
C) To break down and immobilize prey
D) To attract mates
E) To mark territory
13. Which group includes non-venomous constrictor snakes?
A) Viperidae
B) Colubridae
C) Elapidae
D) Boidae
E) Hydrophiidae
14. Snakes are ectothermic, which means:
A) They generate heat internally
B) They produce their own food
C) They are warm-blooded
D) Their body temperature depends on the environment
E) They live in cold climates only
15. Which organ do snakes use to detect heat from warm-blooded prey?
A) Pit organs
B) Kidneys
C) Tongue
D) Eyes
E) Cloaca
16. The process of shedding the skin in snakes is called:
A) Metamorphosis
B) Moulting
C) Ecdysis
D) Photosynthesis
E) Regurgitation
17. Which of the following best describes snake eyes?
A) They have movable eyelids
B) They have a transparent scale over each eye
C) They see in ultraviolet light
D) They blink to clean the eye
E) They lack lenses
18. What is the primary diet of most snakes?
A) Nectar and pollen
B) Algae
C) Insects, rodents, and small vertebrates
D) Fruits and seeds
E) Leaves and roots
19. Where are sea snakes most commonly found?
A) Freshwater rivers
B) Arctic oceans
C) Coral reef regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans
D) Deserts of Africa
E) Mountain streams
20. What major threat do snakes face globally?
A) Overpopulation
B) Lack of predators
C) Human persecution and habitat loss
D) Excessive rainfall
E) High body temperature
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Answer Key with Explanations
1. C) Serpentes – Snakes belong to the suborder Serpentes within Squamata.
2. D) Absence of limbs – Unlike lizards, snakes lack limbs.
3. A) Smell the air – The forked tongue gathers scent particles for olfaction.
4. D) Chemoreception – Jacobson’s organ detects chemical signals from the tongue.
5. C) Dislocatable jaw – This allows snakes to swallow large prey whole.
6. D) Internal fertilization – Male snakes use hemipenes for internal fertilization.
7. C) Viviparous – Viviparous snakes give live birth.
8. C) Locomotion – Ventral scales help grip surfaces for movement.
9. B) Via vibrations through the jawbone – Snakes detect ground vibrations this way.
10. C) King cobra – It’s a venomous species in the Elapidae family.
11. D) Paralyze and kill prey – Fangs are used to inject venom.
12. C) To break down and immobilize prey – Venom assists in digestion and capture.
13. D) Boidae – Includes boas and pythons that kill prey by constriction.
14. D) Their body temperature depends on the environment – That’s the definition of ectothermic.
15. A) Pit organs – Found in pit vipers and some pythons for heat detection.
16. C) Ecdysis – Scientific term for skin shedding in snakes.
17. B) They have a transparent scale over each eye – Called a brille or spectacle.
18. C) Insects, rodents, and small vertebrates – Most snakes are carnivorous predators.
19. C) Coral reef regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans – Sea snakes thrive in warm coastal waters.
20. C) Human persecution and habitat loss – The biggest threats to many snake populations.
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