Snakes first appeared around 100 million years ago, evolving from a lizard-like ancestor.  Since then, they have spread across the globe adapting to life on land and at sea.  Snakes have always fascinated people and are part of the culture of every society. This exhibition delves into the captivating life of snakes, bringing to light their beauty, mystery and amazing natural history.  Using taxidermy, skeletal mounts and award winning photography our Snakes exhibition demonstrates the distinctive features and behaviours of these extraordinary creatures.

 

Species and topics

The exhibition is family friendly but also works with science national curriculum. It is segmented into two topics:

Habitat

  • Aquatic snakes – How some snake species are adapted to living in and finding food in the sea or rivers? Specimen: Green anaconda

  • Forest Floor – Some snakes live among leaf litter on the forest floor, using extreme camouflage to enable them to ambush prey. Specimen: Rhinoceros viper

  • Arboreal snakes – How are snakes adapted to living in trees. What special traits do they have? Specimen: Red-tailed racer.

  • Desert snakes - Some species of snake are adapted to desert habitats, surviving extremes of temperature. Specimen: Black-tailed rattlesnake.

  • UK snakes – How do species of snake live and survive in the UK? Specimens: Grass snake, smooth snake and adder.

Biology

  • Snake Senses – How do snakes sense their prey? Specimen: Royal python (open display)

  • Hunting and capturing prey – How do snakes overcome their prey? Specimen: Common boa and rat.

  • Snake growth – How do snakes grow? Specimen: Western hognose

  • Snake reproduction – How do snakes produce young? Specimen: Burmese python with eggs.

  • Snake defence – How do snake defend themselves passively? Specimens: Kingsnake, Eastern coral snake, milk snake.

  • Snake defence – How do snakes defend themselves actively? Specimen: King cobra

  • Snake Antivenom – How and why is antivenom produced? Specimen: Red spitting cobra.

  • Snake anatomy – How does the form and function of snakes allow them to live as they do? Specimen: Burmese python skeleton coming down to capture a skeletal piglet.

  • Snake skulls – How are snake skulls different for different species? Specimens: Gaboon viper skull, reticulated python skull, gopher snake skull.

Exhibition details

Contents:

Fifteen displays featuring taxidermied, skeletal and model snake specimens. Display cases, interpretation, graphics, a suite of interactives and high-definition wall images are included. The option to include live snake vivaria is available.

Availability:

The exhibition is currently booked for certain slots. Please ask about availability.

Size:

The exhibition can be accommodated in any space from 250sqm upwards. Depending on the space requirements the exhibition is flexible, so cases can be positioned throughout multiple rooms, or the option of adding further images and interactives as well as the vivaria can be investigated for larger spaces.

Past hires:

World Museum Liverpool, Woodhorn Colliery Museum, Beacon Museum, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.

Included in the hire:

Blue Tokay staff to transport, install and deinstall. Storage crates are taken away during the hire. One-way transport is paid by the venue. We can supply learning packages and provide a merchandising offer.