Sssssss....

We all know that boa constrictors can wrap around and strangle their prey; cobras can spit venom at the eyes of any threatening predator; and thanks to the brave acting of J.Lo, we know that anacondas can tear apart your Congo riverboat and swallow you whole. But this may be the most odd and freaky snake ability I've ever seen--for those of you with snake-phobia, you may want to skip this post...Phuc, you have been warned--flying snakes. FLYING. This is no hoax. The research is presented by Jake Socha of UChicago. Ok, well technically the snakes only glide, but still, when I think of gliding, I think of cute, furry flying squirrels like Momo-chan from Samurai Champloo or the pet that my 4rd grade teacher brought to class a few times. Gliding should not be a term that describes snakes. But alas, here is video footage of a snake jumping from one tree to another. Well, that clip shows a little hop. Perhaps this video is better/scarier. Even though the flying snakes are considered harmless to humans, it's still freaky. I don't want a snake flying at my face or onto my windshield while I'm driving, and I'm sure you don't either. Amusing though, is this excerpt from Jake Socha's FAQ page: Do they make good pets? Not really. C. ornata is extremely aggressive - it usually bites if given the chance, no matter how long it's kept in captivity. Also, flying snakes need special conditions - a large vertical tank with lots of branches, a warm temperature, and high humidity. Paradise Tree snakes don't seem to do well in captivity, though the Golden Tree snake is fairly hardy if you can stand the bites. It's a bird! It's a plane! It's....SSSSSsssss...a snake!!!