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Snakes. All are carnivores. Control rodent population. Methods of capturing food. venom. Methods of capturing food. Constriction (most common). Methods of capturing food. Swallow alive. Ouch!. Venomous snakes in U.S.
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Snakes • All are carnivores Control rodent population
Methods of capturing food • venom
Methods of capturing food • Constriction (most common)
Methods of capturing food • Swallow alive
Venomous snakes in U.S. • Rattlesnakes, cotton mouths (water moccasins), coral snakes, copperheads
coral snake – red next to yellow will kill a fellow • king snake – red next to black is harmless to jack
Only venomous snake of this area • Great basin rattlesnake
Scutes • Modified ventral scales, provides traction
Eyes • Nearsighted, fused transparent eye lid Brille
Rattle Do not tell the age! Rattles are not shed with skin
Nostrils • Mainly for breathing
Pits • Heat sensors
Tongue • Forked, collects chemicals from environment
Jacobson’s organ • Senses the chemicals collected by the tongue
Gullet • Opening to the esophagus, leads to the stomach
Glottis • Opening to the trachea, leads to the lungs
Solid teeth • Curved backwards to grip the prey and force it in
Fangs • Hollow, inject venom, shed and replaced periodically
Venom duct • Carries venom to the fangs
Venom gland • Modified salivary gland
Hemotoxin • Acts on blood vessels causing internal bleeding
Neurotoxin • Acts on nerves, can paralyze heart and breathing
Venom gland muscle • Voluntary muscle, snake has to think to inject venom, 1 out of 3 bites to humans are dry bites
Rattlesnake strike • Rarely more than ½ their body length, about the speed of a boxer’s jab
Adaptations for swallowing prey • Unhinge their jaw in 3 places
Adaptations for swallowing prey • Teeth curve backwards
Adaptations for swallowing prey • Can move trachea to breathe
Adaptations for swallowing prey • Elastic skin
Snake bite do’s • Go to the doctor • Stay calm • Splint the bite area • Remove rings
Snake bite don’ts • Run • Cut and suck • Tourniquet
Flying snakes Flatten out their bodies and can glide over 300 feet
Lizards • Versatile feeders – can be carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores
Gila monster • Only venomous lizard in the U.S. (one of the 2 in the world) Venom glands are in lower jaw
Chameleon adaptations • Can change color
Chameleon adaptations • Grasping toes and tail
Chameleon adaptations • Eyes work independently
Chameleon adaptations • Sticky tongue can stretch the length of their bodies to capture food
Komodo dragon • Largest living lizard, 10 ft. long, 300 lbs Bacteria on teeth cause blood poisoning in prey
Desert horned lizard Shoots blood from its eye to escape predators
Turtles and tortoises • Include the longest living animals on Earth, some may live up to 200 years
Carapace • Top shell consisting of backbone and ribs
Plastron • Bottom shell – modified sternum (breastbone)
Saltwater crocodile • Largest living reptile, 27 feet long
Gharial Native to India