Feeding Habits

Snakes have many different feeding habits just like we as humans do. Snakes do not consume plant food, though some reptiles do. Snakes survive by eating living creatures. Several snakes tend to eat worms, insects, and many other small reptiles. Water snakes dive in search of tadpoles, fish, and frogs. Snakes that climb trees often capture birds and their eggs. Burrowing snakes have tough nose scales that gives them the ability to probe underground for their prey which is normally grubs and worms. Many of the larger snakes most often eat rodents and other smaller mammals. They can overpower their prey by lying on top of them and crushing them between their powerful jaws.

Since snakes have no legs, claws, or paws to help them capture food, they must have other ways to overpower their prey. Trying to overcome prey can be a great damage to a snake. Struggling animals can tear tender tissues and loosen teeth in a snake's mouth.

Rattlesnakes, moccasins, and coral snakes all have the same feeding habits. Their venom is so powerful that it will immobilize prey; therefore, it can be safely eaten. Snakes first strike and inject poison into their victim, then often they wait for it to die. The snakes are then able to track the prey down and devour it.

A snake has no way to chew or bite of piece of food so therefore it has to swallow its food whole. Many people often wonder how such a small mouthed reptile can eat something much larger than its own head. In order for a snake to eat an enormous meal, the snake must unhinge the lower jaws from either side of the skull to expand the mouth and spread the elastic muscle that spreads apart the chin. When a snake swallows, the salivary glands produce abundant secretions, that moisten the body of the prey which helps it to slide easily between the jaws of the snake. When the snake has completly finished swallowing its victim it is then able to adjust its mouth back to normal.

The rhythmic muscular waves move the meal down the snakes body to the digested system. The skin between the scalse expand to allow the food to pass. A snake has very powerful digestive juices that are able to digest bones and teeth.

Snakes are not very active reptiles therefore they do not eat as often as others. Two or Three weeks may elapse before a snake may have the desire to capture its next victim.