Myths, Hoaxes and Viral Posts

“Poisonous snake vs Non-poisonous snake”

5 years ago

Viral Posts “Poisonous snake versus Non-poisonous snake” Another misleading viral post doing the rounds on social media “Poisonous snake vs non poisonous” (Most snakes are considered venomous and not poisonous,…

“The Black Mamba Snake”

5 years ago

Viral Posts “The Black Mamba Snake” Another viral image filled with misinformation. Firstly the photograph is not of a Black Mamba – looks like an Australian Red-bellied Black Snake. The Black…

Free Handling Puff Adders

5 years ago

Viral Posts Free Handling Puff Adders Another popular video and the man free-handling three Puff Adders is reportedly from Northwest Province. Not just does he freely handle and even kiss…

Snakes and bite marks

5 years ago

Viral Posts Snakes and bite marks Misinformation doing the rounds on social media again. Fang marks are rarely useful in diagnosing a serious snakebite and few snakes leave two distinct…

Hypnotizing snakes

5 years ago

Viral Posts Man “hypnotizes” cobra A video clip of a man ‘hypnotizing’ a cobra has been doing the rounds on the social media for quite some time. There are a…

Snakes and vibration

5 years ago

Myths and Hoaxes Snakes and vibration Snakes do not have external ears and lack a tympanic membrane. The inner ear, however, is well developed and despite popular belief snakes respond…

“Harmless vs Venomous”

5 years ago

Viral Posts “Harmless vs Venomous” Another image doing the rounds on social media is this one. Telling users how only venomous snakes have a single row of scales after the…

“Poisonous versus Non-poisonous”

7 years ago

Viral Posts “Poisonous versus Non-poisonous” Another misleading viral post – “Poisonous vs non poisonous” (Snakes are considered venomous and not poisonous.) The line illustration pointing out the differences between ‘poisonous’…

Can Puff Adders strike backwards?

7 years ago

Myths and Hoaxes Can Puff Adders strike backwards? It is a popular myth that it is safe to stand in front of a Puff Adder as they have fangs on…

Giant Anaconda

7 years ago

Viral Posts Giant Anaconda Several photographs of a giant Anaconda/Reticulated Python have been doing the rounds on the social media since 2010. In some of the photographs the snake is…

Myths, Hoaxes and Viral Posts