QUESTIONS:
1. Who can grow larger a turtle or a tortoise?
ANSWER:
       When you think of a large turtle or tortoise, the Galapagos Tortoise may come to mind.
    A large land tortoise, they can weigh as much as 500 pounds!
    But the largest is the Leatherback Sea Turtle! Some can weigh as much as 1700 pounds!
QUESTION:
 2. Why is the King Cobra  called a "King"?
ANSWER:
      Two main reasons, they are the largest venomous snake in the world growing up to
    18 feet in length! and they eat other snakes!
QUESTION:
 3. What is the largest snake in Virginia?
ANSWER:
    That title belongs to the non-venomous Black Rat snake.
   The record length is 101 inches!
QUESTION:
 4. How old is the Rattlesnake?
ANSWER:
         You CAN NOT determine the age of a rattlesnake by counting the segments on it's tail!
    Each time the snake sheds it's skin it gains a NEW segment. Some Rattlesnakes, if eating well,
    may shed as many as 3-4 times a year!
         In more difficult times a rattlesnake may only shed once a year. Shedding of the skin, together with
    new segment growth, is determined by the health and diet of the snake. The rattle itself is also very fragile
    and can easily break. So, unless you where there to see the birth or kept records on a particular snake, aging
    them can be very difficult.    
                                                      
                                                                               FUTURE INFORMATION:
                  For more information about local snakes of the Shenandoah Valley, check back in the future for:
                                            'Snakes and Shovel whackers' a fun guide to the snakes of the Shenandoah Valley
                                                                Written by: Luray Zoo owner Jennifer Westhoff  

Reptile Answers!