Posted by:
Rivets55
at Thu Sep 14 22:13:41 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Rivets55 ]
>>(1) do all snakes have a movable maxilla?
>>(2) or do only vipers have one?
>>
(1) Yes, all snakes have movable maxilla - That's part of what makes them snakes. In fact, nearly all of a snake's skull and jaw bones are movable, except the braincase, which is solid.
(2) Vipers have a highly-derived maxilla, which allows the fangs to swing as if on a hinge. Most snake's maxilla are not this mobile, but there are other snakes besides vipers with hinged maxilla.
Hope this helps.
JPD
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I am so not lesdysxic!
0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"
[ Hide Replies ]
- Anatomy question - thefiradragon, Thu Sep 14 21:48:38 2006
 RE: Anatomy question - Rivets55, Thu Sep 14 22:13:41 2006
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