Snakes are elongated, limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (/sɜːrˈpɛntiːz/).[2] Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more joints than their lizard ancestors, enabling them to swallow prey much larger than their heads (cranial kinesis). To accommodate their narrow bodies, snakes' paired organs (such as kidneys) appear one in front of the other instead of side by side, and most have only one functional lung. Some species retain a pelvic girdle with a pair of vestigial claws on either side of the cloaca. Lizards have independently evolved elongate bodies without limbs or with greatly reduced limbs at least twenty-five times via convergent evolution, leading to many lineages of legless lizards.[3] These resemble snakes, but several common groups of legless lizards have eyelids and external ears, which snakes lack, although this rule is not universal (see Amphisbaenia, Dibamidae, and Pygopodidae). Living snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica, and on most smaller land masses; exceptions include some large islands, such as Ireland, Iceland, Greenland, and the islands of New Zealand, as well as many small islands of the Atlantic and central Pacific oceans.[4] Additionally, sea snakes are widespread throughout the Indian and Pacific oceans. Around thirty families are currently recognized, comprising about 520 genera and about 3,900 species.[5] They range in size from the tiny, 10.4 cm-long (4.1 in) Barbados threadsnake[6] to the reticulated python of 6.95 meters (22.8 ft) in length.[7] The fossil species Titanoboa cerrejonensis was 12.8 meters (42 ft) long.[8] Snakes are thought to have evolved from either burrowing or aquatic lizards, perhaps during the Jurassic period, with the earliest known fossils dating to between 143 and 167 Ma ago.[9][10] The diversity of modern snakes appeared during the Paleocene epoch (c. 66 to 56 Ma ago, after the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event). The oldest preserved descriptions of snakes can be found in the Brooklyn Papyrus. Most species of snake are nonvenomous and those that have venom use it primarily to kill and subdue prey rather than for self-defense. Some possess venom that is potent enough to cause painful injury or death to humans. Nonvenomous snakes either swallow prey alive or kill by constriction.
The tale of the film, as narrated by the rooster Alan-a-Dale, begins after the greedy and immature lion Prince John took advantage of the absence of his brother King Richard to usurp the crown from him, with assistance from his advisor, Sir Hiss the snake. From then on, the land is plagued with outrageously high taxes, notably through the actions of the Sheriff of Nottingham, a heartless wolf who keeps the city under the Prince's thumb and has no qualms stripping the poor people of each and every last bit of their savings. Thankfully, there is hope for the people. Hiding within Sherwood Forest, a pair of robbers composed of a fox known as Robin Hood and his trusty bear companion Little John have made it their duty to steal from the rich to give to the poor. Through a variety of schemes and disguises, they take from the unworthy ruler and his lackeys to give back to the struggling citizens, such as Friar Tuck, the badger in charge of the local church who supports the outlaws' actions and himself tries to help his fellow residents best as he can. Meanwhile, living alone with her lady-in-waiting, a hen named Lady Kluck, is a beautiful and benevolent vixen known as Maid Marian, who happens to be King Richard's niece. Years ago, she and Robin Hood used to be sweethearts; and today, neither has forgotten about the other, as they are longing to be once more reunited. However, Prince John is more than determined to finally catch the thief who humiliated him so many times...
