Although
the food types vary from snake to snake, the majority of all
snakes eat prey much larger than themselves.
This fact seperates snakes from the rest of the animal kingdom.
Due to the fact the eat very large meals, snakes do not have
to eat very often. They also have a very slow metabolism,
digesting their food over the course of anywhere to 12 months
(large Pythons). Most snakes eat 7 - 10 meals a year.
Snakes do have teeth, but not in
the traditional sense. All their teeth are used for is holding
onto, and dragging their prey down their esophagus. Although
the teeth have limited use, they are the perfectly adapted
for doing this. The teeth are slightly curved into their mouth,
small and very sharp. The inward curve prevents prey from
backing out. The entire jaw structure is lined with these
teeth. The snakes jaws are connected together only by ligaments
and muscle, allowing the upper and lower jaw to move independently.
Some prey will be swallowed alive,
while dangerous prey is killed before being eaten. You would
not think it, but a rat or mouse is dangerous. They are very
aggressive and will continue to bite and chew at your snake.
This food is killed with a bite, venom or
by constriction. The snake will generally
turn the prey so it is swallowing it head first. The jaw bones
move independantly, slowly drawing the food into its mouth.
When the food is past its head, the snake will form a curve
in its neck, forcing the animal down into its stomach.
Snake skin is remarkably elastic,
allowing it tol stretch enough to allow very large animals
to work its way down and be digested. Snakes do not have a
sternum (attaching the ribs at the front), or the pectoral
girdle (for front limbs). This makes it easy for the body
to stretch and eat large food.
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