Snakes are a remarkably successful group of animals, found in a wide range of habitats and on almost every continent. There are some 2,700 species of snakes and these different species have a wide range of physical features and have evolved a variety of life styles.

Drawing on the latest research, Martin Gaywood and Ian Spellerberg examine snakes’ origins and development, their incredible diversity in adapting to widely differing environments, their role as predators and prey, and their complicated relationship with humans. He stresses the need for the conservation of snakes, which face threats from habitat destruction, persecution, and collection.