Snakes have been demonized and feared almost since humans first encountered them. A plethora of legend and lore has grown up around the reptiles, much of it of a rather frightening variety. While ...

Ask Mike Dawson the definition of a “snake-a-phobe” and the answer will likely be: “someone who suffers anything from a mild dislike to a total disgust of tubular life form.” Dawson posed the question ...

Have you ever seen a hoop snake? If you're not sure, let me tell you about them: Like most legends, though, the tale of the hoop snake refuses to die. From an early mention of a hoop snake in the 1784 ...

Folklore about animals is likely as old as mankind. After all, animals are very important parts of people's lives. However, some are often feared and misunderstood and that can lead to some wild tales ...

TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. About the Archive This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online ...

A popular myth about snakes is they are somehow able to hypnotize or "charm" their prey so that the prey is unable to escape. There is no evidence to support this claim. The myth may have resulted ...

A legendary hoop snake capable of gripping its own tail and rolling like a wheel has never proven more than a myth, but a new robot could mimic the supposed creature's ability to both crawl and roll ...

A legendary hoop snake capable of gripping its own tail and rolling like a wheel has never proven more than a myth, but a new robot could mimic the supposed creature's ability to both crawl and roll ...