OxScience

To find out the difference, let’s first study both terms separately:

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Snake

Known as vipers or asps, they are a subfamily of snakes, as are rattlesnakes, which belong to the viperid family.

Vipers are famous for their powerful poisons, during ancient Punic wars sacks of vipers were thrown at enemy ships.

These reptiles have long, hollow fangs in the upper jaw, they retract against the palate when the mouth is closed and when it is opened they deploy to attack the prey.

The hollow fangs allow the poison to be injected into the victim’s blood and tissues.

Its head is triangular and wide, it is covered with scales and its pupils are vertical.

Vipers are mostly ovoviviparous.

They have distributed throughout the world thanks to their great capacity to adapt to the environment. They are not found in America, Australia, Madagascar, and other islands. They are mostly endemic to Africa.

There are 99 known species of vipers.

Snakes

Known as serpents or snakes, they are a suborder of the sauropsids or reptiles. They are characterized by having an elongated body devoid of limbs.

Snakes can be poisonous or constrictive depending on the species.

There are about 450 genera and 3460 species of snakes in the world.

Snakes use their scales to get around. Pythons and boas have tiny limbs that contribute to the movement.

suggested video: Viper vs Snake

Difference between Viper and Snake

• Vipers belong to the snake family.
• Snakes can be poisonous or constrictive.
• Vipers are entirely poisonous.
• Vipers lack limbs, snakes like the boa or python have very small limbs.