"Saint Patrick, a fifth-century missionary from Roman Britain, is primarily known for spreading Christianity within Ireland. His other claim to folklore fame, however, comes from his supposed role as an exterminator—he's said to have chased all the snakes out of Ireland with an ornate shepherd's crook known as a crozier."
"Most scientists agree that the most recent ice age, which ended approximately 11,700 years ago, is the reason for Ireland's lack of reptile diversity. By the time glacial ice from the era receded and temperatures warmed enough for the ectotherms, Ireland had broken off from the European continent and was inaccessible to roaming reptiles."
"Because reptiles cannot warm themselves internally like mammals can, they tend to prefer warm temperatures between 70 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit (21 and 38 degrees Celsius) and can be rendered immobile or paralyzed in colder conditions."
Saint Patrick is legendary for supposedly driving snakes from Ireland, but the island has never hosted native snake species. Ireland's snake-free status results from geological history rather than religious intervention. The last ice age ended approximately 11,700 years ago, and by the time glacial ice receded and temperatures warmed, Ireland had separated from the European continent, becoming inaccessible to roaming reptiles. Today, Ireland remains too cold for most snakes, as reptiles require warm temperatures between 70 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit and cannot generate internal body heat like mammals. Ireland currently has only two reptile species: the common lizard as its sole native land reptile and the slow worm, an introduced legless lizard species.
#ireland-reptiles #saint-patrick-mythology #ice-age-biogeography #snake-absence #ectothermic-animals
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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