A Snake in the Grass

On a warm spring morning, Maia and her cousin Ana were walking quietly along a bush track. Near a sunny patch, Maia spotted a small snake resting among fallen leaves. They stopped a few metres away and watched without touching it. The snake’s brown and gold scales blended with the leaves. This kind of disguise is called camouflage. When Ana stepped closer, the snake slid beneath a log. It moved by rippling its muscles along the ground, a motion often called slithering. Snakes do not have legs, but their bodies are strong and flexible. Their scales help protect them and grip the ground as they move. A snake flicks its forked tongue in and out to collect tiny scent particles from the air. Its mouth can detect those particles, giving the snake information about what is nearby. Not every snake is venomous. Venomous snakes can inject venom through specialised teeth, but many snakes are harmless to people. Snakes are important in nature: many eat mice and other small animals, helping keep their numbers balanced. They also provide food for some birds and other predators. Maia and Ana left the snake alone and told an adult what they had seen. The adult reminded them that it is safest to admire wild animals from a distance. The snake had already disappeared under the log, where it could rest undisturbed.