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Feeding by mandibular raking in a snake

Most snakes transport prey through the mouth by using asynchronous ratcheting movements of their upper jaws 1, 2. In contrast, we have found that threadsnakes (members of the basal snake clade ...

Most snakes transport prey through the mouth by using asynchronous ratcheting movements of their upper jaws1,2. In contrast, we have found that threadsnakes (members of the basal snake clade Scolecophidia) have a unique feeding mechanism in which the tooth-bearing elements of the lower jaw rotate synchronously in and out of the mouth, dragging prey into the oesophagus. This mechanism, which we ...

Prey Transport Mechanisms in Blindsnakes and the Evolution of ...

In contrast to mandibular raking , however, maxillary raking bears at least some similarity to the feeding mechanisms of alethinophidian snakes . In particular, prey is transported into and through the mouth via independent ratcheting movements of the upper jaws.

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Feeding by mandibular raking in a snake

This mechanism, which we call mandibular raking , is the only vertebrate feeding mechanism known in which prey is transported exclusively by movements of the lower jaw. Threadsnakes (family Leptotyphlopidae) are tiny, burrowing serpents that feed predominantly on the larvae, pupae and adults of social insects3 (Fig. 1a).

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Feeding by mandibular raking in a snake

Most snakes transport prey through the mouth by using asynchronous ratcheting movements of their upper jaws. In contrast, we have found that threadsnakes (members of the basal snake clade Scolecophidia) have a unique feeding mechanism in which the tooth-bearing elements of the lower jaw rotate synchronously in and out of the mouth, dragging prey into the oesophagus. This mechanism, which we ...

In addition to constraints related to the physical properties of their food items, some feeding behaviors may impose high loads on snake teeth , such as eating live and vigorous prey, with or without the support of a solid substrate. These various mechanical challenges may have driven the evolution of tooth shape in snakes .

Armed to the teeth

Limblessness combined to the peculiar feeding behavior of snakes impose strong functional constraints on their teeth , especially during arboreal or aquatic feeding .