Reptile & Amphibian Forums

do all snakes have a movable maxilla? or do only vipers have one?

thanks

Ashley
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"I’m scared of those nasty big-eyed grey aliens, too. I think it’s that I don’t understand their motivations. I am confident of my ability to out-think, out-con, or if need be, tire-iron-upside-the-head demonic forces, ghosts and goblins, things that go bump in the night, etc. It’s the notion of something that doesn’t have any desire to talk to me except via anal probe that freaks me out"

>>(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"

that was most helpfull, thank you

ashley
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"I’m scared of those nasty big-eyed grey aliens, too. I think it’s that I don’t understand their motivations. I am confident of my ability to out-think, out-con, or if need be, tire-iron-upside-the-head demonic forces, ghosts and goblins, things that go bump in the night, etc. It’s the notion of something that doesn’t have any desire to talk to me except via anal probe that freaks me out"