Snakes are reptiles, a class of vertebrates that also includes lizards, turtles, crocodiles and the tuatara, a small group of lizard-like animals found in New Zealand. As a group, reptiles share many common characteristics. All reptiles have scales. They grow by literally "crawling out of their skin" two to four times annually- they must regularly shed the outside layer of their skin as they get bigger. Reptiles have a body temperature that is the same as their surroundings.

All snakes are carnivores, preying upon a variety of different animals including other snakes, fish, frogs, salamanders, rodents, insects, birds and slugs. Snakes have no claws or chewing teeth - they must eat their prey whole. They are able to eat prey larger than their head by allowing their jaws to disarticulate while swallowing and subsequently rearticulating the jaw when finished. Some snakes actively pursue their prey while others remain motionless and well camouflaged, waiting for unsuspecting prey to wander within striking distance.