Question

Which of the following snakes has hind legs?
A. Python
B. Bungarus
C. Typhlops
D. King cobra

Answer 1

Hint: Snakes are limbless reptiles but some of them possess hind legs as vestigial bones. They are mostly carnivorous and have elongated bodies and tails covered with scales that are overlapping.

Complete answer:
Option (A) is correct. Python belonging to the family Pythonidae is a non-venomous (not poisonous) snake that has flecked skin with a long split tongue and possesses vestigial hind limbs that are buried inside the muscles toward the end of their tails.
Option (B) is incorrect. Bungarus belonging to the cobra family (Elapidae) is a venomous snake that has a slender body without a distinct neck. The dorsal side of the body is black or dark-bluish in color along with a series of narrow white paired dorsal bands and it is highly glossy.
Option (C) is incorrect. Typhlops belonging to the family Typhlopidae is a genus of blind snakes with dorsal fin rays and smooth, uniformly sized body scales. They do not possess hind legs.
Option (D) is incorrect. King cobra belonging to the family Elapidae is a venomous and dangerous snake and it’s the world’s longest snake. The skin is olive green in color with black and white bands on the trunk which converge towards the head and do not possess hind legs.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: Snakes are legless but some of them possess vestigial hind limb bones and pelvic girdle. It is the characteristic of pythons, king snakes, and boa constrictors. These snakes attack their prey by wrapping themselves on the body of the prey and squeezing it so that it cannot breathe.