The snake is one of the most emblematic creatures in human mythology, and is perceived to represent both wisdom and evil. Indian mythology considers snakes to be the ‘bringers of life’, while the Bible tells the story of a snake as the first deceiver. Snakes’ most prominent characteristic is their lack of limbs, so they move with a slithering motion. As they hunt other animals, they have developed a keen sense of smell and the ability to sense vibrations and temperature variations. To kill their prey, venomous snakes use their long and sharp teeth to inject a paralysing or deadly nerve venom from their specialised salivary glands, where the venom is stored. They can unhinge their jaws to swallow large prey. As a result of growing continuously, snakes shed their skin by detaching the outermost layer.