Serpentarium
Encyclopedia
A serpentarium is a reptile zoo
or reptile park specializing in snake
s. Many serpentariums milk snakes for venom
for medical and scientific research.
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
or reptile park specializing in snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
s. Many serpentariums milk snakes for venom
Venom
Venom is the general term referring to any variety of toxins used by certain types of animals that inject it into their victims by the means of a bite or a sting...
for medical and scientific research.
History
The Miami Serpentarium opened in 1948 and closed in 1984.Notable serpentariums
Notable serpentariums include:- Cape Fear Serpentarium in Wilmington, North Carolina
- Edisto Island Serpentarium
- Seaway Serpentarium in Canada
- Serpent Safari in Gurnee, Illinois
- Kentucky Reptile Zoo in Slade, Kentucky