Preface

Snakes play a very important role in our ecosystem. They help in balancing the food web, regulating the population of their prey, and thereby controlling pests. They also exhibit both predator and prey characteristics and help in maintaining biodiversity on Earth for future sustainable development. This book highlights the extreme ecological importance of snakes with chapters on snake venom and its therapeutic potential and the ecology of some selected snake species.

#### **Dr. Mohammad Manjur Shah**

Department of Biological Sciences, Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano, Nigeria

#### **Dr. Umar Sharif and Dr. Tijjani Rufai Buhari**

Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano, Nigeria

#### **Dr. Tijjani Sabiu Imam**

Byero University, Kano, Nigeria
