SNAKES AND LIZARDS

"Snakes and lizards are widely distributed throughout the world, and they are particularly diverse in tropical environments. They are important predators in all terrestrial ecosystems, and some snakes have evolved adaptations to live in tropical marine seas. Several groups of snakes are highly poisonous, including the coral snake and the fer-de-lance shown on this wall, but the majority are harmless. Large lizards and snakes have been widely exploited for food, and in many regions of the world their body parts are used for traditional medicines and for other products. They are also popular as pets, and numerous species are traded on the world market, often illegally. Medical science has long been interested in snake toxins, and some of these have been developed into important drugs. "