Feared and reviled by many, venomous snakes are woefully misunderstood. This illustrated guide clears up many of the misconceptions about the animals and offers a glimpse into their extraordinary lives. Covering everything from hunting, feeding, and locomotion to shedding, mating, and reproduction, the book also examines the difficulties that these snakes and humans have coexisting and gives advice on what to do should you encounter a venomous snake in the field.