Firecrackers, parades and prayers marked the Lunar New Year as millions around Asia and farther afield celebrated

This year, Lunar New Year begins today, Wednesday, Jan. 29, and ends Feb. 12. Lunar New Year, also widely regarded as Chinese New Year since the late 19th century when it gained global recognition through Chinese immigrant communities, is a centuries-old tradition rooted in the lunar calendar.

In honor of the Year of the Snake, let’s appreciate the strange anatomy and evolution of these slithery reptiles