Musah, Y.Attuquayefio, D.K.Pobee, A.N.A.Holbech, L.H.2022-01-112022-01-112021https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2021.1952357http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/37552Research ArticleSnakes have fascinated and terrified humans throughout history. Worldwide, innate fear (ophidiophobia), culturally-founded superstition, and myths have caused pervasive snake persecution, snakebite mismanagement, human injuries, and fatalities, particularly in the tropics. We analyzed 20 common snake myths narrated by 934 respondents inhabiting a typical rural savanna community of northern Ghana. The myths summarized perceived, self-assessed knowledge about snakes and were evaluated in their zoo-ecological contexts versus their folkloristic explanatory origins. Only eight snake myths (~40%) had any justifiable scientific basis, partially representing misinterpretations among predominantly male, less-educated respondents. Contrastingly, 70% of the myths were largely rooted in ophidiophobia, representing a major driver of human-wildlife conflict and indiscriminate snake persecution. To promote wildlife-friendly perceptions and behavior toward snakes and their conservation, we recommend innovative gap-bridging conservation education and public awareness that reconciles myths and realities about snakes, thus reducing snakebite incidences, mortality, and widespread persecution and killing of snakes.enBeliefsfolklorepsychologyself-assessed knowledgesnake fearWest Africazoo-ecologyArticle