Ophidiophobia or ophiophobia –- (abnormal) fear of snakes — is one of the most common phobias people have.
A March 2008 article in Live Science suggests several theories as to why humans “have evolved an innate tendency to sense snakes…and to learn to fear them.”
Of course, the need to be able to sense and fear snakes in the wild throughout evolutionary history in order to “survive and reproduce,” is one of those theories.
While my father worked for a major oil company in the rainforest in Ecuador (“El Oriente”), I often visited my parents there and spent some of the most idyllic and memorable times of my early youth in what may now be “Paradise Lost,” but always weary of (poisonous) snakes.
No wonder a photo released by the Defense Department earlier this week (above) caught my attention. I intended to use it as an image for my “Military Weekend” post.
In the meantime, the photo also caught the attention of USA TODAY which on Thursday published it along with a short article, reflecting the fascination people have for snakes. Just think of the 2006 film, Snakes on a Plane which “gained a considerable amount of attention before its release, forming large fanbases online and becoming an Internet phenomenon, due to the film’s title, casting and premise.”
The “hair-rising” photo was taken at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., April 7, 2018, by Army Staff Sgt. William Frye.
The caption is:
A southern black racer snake slithers across the barrel of junior U.S. Army National Guard sniper Pfc. William Snyder’s rifle as he practices woodland stalking in a camouflaged ghillie suit during a 1-173 Infantry training exercise Saturday, April 7, 2018, at Eglin Air Force Base. Our snipers are trained to remain perfectly still for hours on end when in position and remain invisible to enemies and even wildlife.
USA TODAY adds: “While many may have lost their nerve, Snyder kept his cool and remained in his position.”
The Army National Guard adds: “Want to be a part of this elite team? We have slots available. Contact us. The National Guard.”
From some internet “research” I learned that the coluber constrictor Priapus, the southern black racer:
…is one of the more common subspecies of the non-venomous Coluber constrictor snake species of the Southeastern United States… They will eat almost any animal they can overpower, including, rodents, frogs, toads, and lizards. Members of this species generally do not tolerate handling – even after months in captivity – and will typically strike and flail wildly every time they are handled, often defecating a foul smelling musk, a common defense against predators in snakes…. They are quite fast, giving rise to the name “racer”
I don’t know if Pfc. Snyder knew that the black racer is non-poisonous. Regardless, one cool sniper.
Have a great snake-free weekend.
