Here on Kefalonia there are 7 species of snake, including a water snake and a viper. Snakes do not have eyelids and so cannot close their eyes, although they have a transparent horny covering over the eyes which is part of the periodically shed skin. They have jaws which are only joined by elastic ligaments, allowing them to swallow large prey. Also, their ribs are floating, allowing the large victims to pass through the body. Snakes are practically deaf and only have average eyesight, it is their smell which is their main sense, but this is through their tongue which samples the odour particles and passes them over an organ called Jacobson’s organ. Snakes can also feel the slightest of vibrations in the ground and can then detect the direction of prey or attacker.