Sneaky Snake Facts

We all know that snakes are sneaky, simply not everyone appreciates just how fascinating these slippery slitherers and other venomous creepy crawlies really are! This week, we're kicking off a serial in which we respond some of the most common questions people ask about snakes and other venomous critters. Strap in for some freaky facts!

Sneaky Snake Facts Volume one

Garter snake

The long, forked tongue of a garter ophidian (Thamnophis sp.). Da Vinci Science Center (DSC) CC2.

Why do snakes poke out their natural language?

You may have noticed that snakes poke out their tongues a lot, especially when they are on the move. This is because they use their tongues to "smell" the air, which helps them navigate. This is chosen chemoreception, which literally means the receiving (reception) of chemicals (chemo). Airborne chemicals stick to the snake's tongue when it is poking out, and the serpent can identify the particles cheers to a special organ chosen the vomeronasal (or Jacobson'southward) organ.

Jacobson's organ

The vomeronasal (or Jacobson's organ) allows snakes to detect airborne chemicals, in a similar manner to how we smell. Fred the Oyster CC4.

The vomeronasal organ is located in the roof of a snake'southward mouth, and there are two small entry holes that atomic number 82 to it – similar nostrils, merely on the inside of the mouth. Once the snake has waved its forked tongue effectually plenty to get a good coating of chemicals, it brings the tongue back into the mouth and presses the tips of its forks against the organ – one fork tip in each pigsty. This sends a signal to the ophidian's brain, telling it what the "aroma" is. And if the betoken is stronger on one tip of the tongue fork than the other, it tells the snake which direction that aroma is coming from. This is how snakes are able to notice hidden prey. If you desire to know how snakes hiss, you can notice out here!

Green tree python

Snakes, such every bit this green tree python (Morelia viridis), are so flexible that it may seem equally though they don't have any bones – but they do! David441491 CC2.

Do snakes have basic?

As snakes are so flexible, it may be tempting to call back that snakes have no bones. However, snakes exercise indeed take basic. In fact, they accept hundreds – even more than us humans.

Animals tin be classed every bit either invertebrates (animals with no backbone) or vertebrates (animals with a courage). Invertebrates include animals like jellyfish, squid, spiders, and insects. Their bodies may be very soft and squishy, like a worm, or they may have an exoskeleton (a hardened outer shell, such as that of a crab, protrude, or scorpion).

Snakes belong to the vertebrates, along with all other reptiles and amphibians, mammals, birds, and fish. All these animals take an inner skeleton.

Basic requite structure and forcefulness to bodies. Muscles are attached to basic, and this enables us to move as our muscles contract. Snakes need lots of bones and so that they tin be both strong and flexible. They take a special skull (more on this afterwards!) and they have a very long spine, made up of hundreds of vertebrae (the bones that make upwards our backbone). They too take hundreds of ribs, almost the whole mode downwardly their body, to protect their organs. Some snakes catch and impale their prey past constriction. This means they constrict (tighten) their strong, muscular torso effectually the animal they have caught and squeeze information technology to decease, with the assistance of their basic. These snakes are super strong! Other snakes take hold of and impale their prey using venom. We will be talking all virtually venom in a time to come blog, and so keep an eye out!

Snake skeleton

The skeleton of this Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica) is by and large composed of hundreds of vertebrae and ribs. Stefan3345 CC4.

How practise snakes eat such big things?

So, one time a snake has caught its prey, how does it really swallow something so much bigger than its head? To answer this question, first we will look at the skull structure of a typical vertebrate.

Polar bear skull

A polar acquit'southward sturdy skull helps make its bite so powerful. WitmerLab at Ohio University CC4.

Most animals have skulls that are similar in construction to this polar conduct'south skull (shown above). These skulls are made upwards of two main parts: the cranium (encephalon case) and the mandible (lower jaw). At that place is also the maxilla (upper jaw), but in nigh animals it is fused to the underside of the attic to form one large, potent construction. The cranium and the mandibular bones lock into place and are held together by strong ligaments. Having simply two master parts to a skull ensures that it is very strong and sturdy. This is of import for all the biting and chewing that nosotros do. However, it also restricts movement, and this ways that we can't open our mouths very wide. Bank check out this interactive website to compare the skulls of lots of unlike animals.

Snakes, however, take a very unique skull that is made up of many separate bones. Both the upper and lower jaws are split into ii parts each (left side and right side), and the cranium is too separate. The bones are held together by flexible ligaments, but they do non lock into place in the style that almost other animals' skulls do. This makes the snake'due south skull incredibly flexible, and the jaw is able to stretch widely in multiple directions.

Boa skull

The skull of this tree boa is made of many unfused bones that are held together past tissue and ligaments. WitmerLab at Ohio University CC4.

Snakes are even able to move the left and the right side of the jaw independently. By moving one side of the jaw frontwards equally the other side grips the food, they are able to slowly pull the nutrient further into their mouth. This is how they are able to swallow such large prey whole – and using no easily!

Rock python swallowing antelope A big repast for this African stone python. alex_griffiths CC2

This week, nosotros have learnt a bit nearly how snakes notice, take hold of, and swallow their casualty. Side by side fourth dimension, we will find out what happens to their bodies one time they take swallowed something so big! We volition also talk nearly another predation strategy – venom.

If you have a called-for question that you desire us to answer in our next blog, feel gratis to driblet u.s. an e-mail.

Cheers for reading and don't forget to check back for more sneaky serpent facts and other information most venomous critters!

- Bianca op den Brouw