Which of the following countries naturally have no land snakes?

As a group, snakes are cosmopolitan, occurring naturally on almost all major land masses with several exceptions. Here, countries where no snakes currently occur on land include: Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand. Also, in Antarctica, Newfoundland and Greenland, they are locations where land snakes do not currently reside.

Pointedly, there are no snakes in Iceland because as it is known that snakes can not survive the cold of Iceland. With Ireland, legend has it that, back in the 5th century A.D., St. Patrick exterminated Ireland’s snakes by driving them into the sea. But, in fact, Ireland never actually had snakes. Ireland is an island; the Irish Sea is 50-plus miles wide. Snakes can not live in the frigid Atlantic to get to Ireland. Next, like the U.S. state of Hawaii, New Zealand is an island grouping devoid of snakes. Its isolated position makes it unique in the world and causes its lack of snakes. Even before it was visited by humans in 1150 AD, there were no mammals present.

More Info: www.reference.com

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67 Comments

jmkearney

Timothy Rayburn the question was for land snakes not water snakes.

ninakamwene

Got it. I have been to New Zealand and no animal to hurt you there. Unless you get tramped by their 50 Million sheep.

Player

On Saint Patrick's Day in Ireland, a man was bit by a runaway snake and died. That was unusual and most unfortunate.

Armadillo

ninakamwene, I should have counted the sheep instead.

Matt Kors

andesean, I think that New Zealand is what’s being spoken about here

andesean

Iceland’s earliest constitution was in 999 ad so what is this stuff about it being visited by humans in 1150?

Chrissie

It's only 12 miles from Antrim to Scotland, not 50, so that's a bit misleading. 30-plus miles from Larne to Portpatrick, 150 miles from Drogheda to Blackpool. I think the reference writer may have gone for an average!

Maia

So if can't live in cold areas, why do they exist in Norway?

Lynn Murphy

Janette Will, "No native animals." Weren't there birds? Giant moas and the like? Aggressive native parrokeets that attack cars in parking lots? Yeah, yeah, I know, you meant mammals.