Activity of Head Muscles During Feeding by Snakes: A Comparative Study

Cundall, David

doi:10.1093/icb/23.2.383

Cited by 85 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Intra oral transport by reciprocating jaw displacements was by means of characteristic unilateral displacements (sensu Gans, 1961), also termed 'pterygoid walk' (sensu Boht & Ewer, 1964), to advance the jaws. This was similar to intra-oral transport described in terrestrial snakes (Cundall, 1983(Cundall, , 1987Kardong, 1986). The four small (17.0-25.8 cm SVL) snakes were offered successively larger fish until they refused to strike or were unable to swallow and released the captured fish after several minutes.…”

Section: Post-strike Phasementioning

confidence: 77%

Predatory strike of the tentacled snake (Erpeton tentaculatum)

Smith

Povel²,

Kardong

2002

Journal of Zoology

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The tentacled snake Erpeton tentaculatum lives its entire life in fresh water where it feeds mostly on fish. Because the tentacled snake strikes underwater, the physical demands differ from those of air, and require modified methods of prey capture compared to terrestrial snakes. To examine this, we scored the feeding behaviours of five snakes and used multiple high-speed films of two snakes striking fishes. In the pre-strike phase, the snake usually assunled a J-shaped posture with its head turned posteriorly at the neck and its body held straight. The snake waited in such a rigid posture for the fish to move into the very narrow 'window' between turned head and body. Tentacles remained erected, and motionless. The strike was extremely rapid, occurring typically from pre-set J-shaped postures, not from sigmoidal body coils. As the head turned and travelled to the fish, the mouth opened and water collected in the ballooning throat. Significant suction feeding was absent. The fish was secured on buccal teeth and quickly swallowed by unilateral displacements of the jaws. Prey capture and swallowing exhibited specialized modifications of the general snake predatory behaviour to address the hydrodynamic demands of such an underwater strike.

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Section: Post-strike Phasementioning

confidence: 77%

Predatory strike of the tentacled snake (Erpeton tentaculatum)

Smith

Povel²,

Kardong

2002

Journal of Zoology

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“…Finally, the m. retractor pterygoidei (RP), despite its name, plays little to no role in palatopterygoid retraction (Cundall and Gans, 1979;Cundall, 1983). Rather, it protracts the braincase relative to the fixed ipsilateral jaw during advance of the contralateral jaw (Cundall, 1983).…”

Section: Myologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rather, it protracts the braincase relative to the fixed ipsilateral jaw during advance of the contralateral jaw (Cundall, 1983). The RP originates from the parabasisphenoid bone, anterolateral to the origin of the PP, and inserts onto the dorsomedial edge of the palatine bone.…”

Section: Myologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Are ontogenetic shifts in diet linked to shifts in feeding mechanics?Scaling of the feeding apparatus in the banded watersnakeNerodia fasciata

Vincent

Moon

Herrel

et al. 2007

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARY The effects of size on animal behaviour, ecology, and physiology are widespread. Theoretical models have been developed to predict how animal form,function, and performance should change with increasing size. Yet, numerous animals undergo dramatic shifts in ecology (e.g. habitat use, diet) that may directly influence the functioning and presumably the scaling of the musculoskeletal system. For example, previous studies have shown that banded watersnakes (Nerodia fasciata) switch from fish prey as juveniles to frog prey as adults, and that fish and frogs represent functionally distinct prey types to watersnakes. We therefore tested whether this ontogenetic shift in diet was coupled to changes in the scaling patterns of the cranial musculoskeletal system in an ontogenetic size series (70–600 mm snout–vent length) of banded watersnakes. We found that all cranial bones and gape size exhibited significant negative allometry, whereas the muscle physiological cross-sectional area (pCSAs) scaled either isometrically or with positive allometry against snout–vent length. By contrast, we found that gape size, most cranial bones, and muscle pCSAs exhibited highly significant positive allometry against head length. Furthermore, the mechanical advantage of the jaw-closing lever system remained constant over ontogeny. Overall, these cranial allometries should enable watersnakes to meet the functional requirements of switching from fusiform fish to bulky frog prey. However, recent studies have reported highly similar allometries in a wide diversity of vertebrate taxa, suggesting that positive allometry within the cranial musculoskeletal system may actually be a general characteristic of vertebrates.

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“…Earlier descriptive studies (e.g., Albright and Nelson, 1959;Boltt and Ewer, 1964;Frazzetta, 1966) led to the formation of the "pterygoid walk" model for prey ingestion (in which the right and left palato-maxillary arches alternately move through a cycle of protraction and retraction) , a model that has been supported by the limited experimental analyses of snake feeding (e.g., Cundall and Gans, 1979;Cundall, 1983;Kardong and Berkhoudt, 1998). Specialized oral venom delivery systems, although rare in vertebrates, are found in four groups of snakes: the Viperidae (including the crotalines or pit vipers), the Elapidae (cobras and related taxa), the Atractaspidae (the African stiletto snakes), and several "rear-fanged" taxa within the large Colubridae.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanics of venom expulsion in Crotalus, with special reference to the role of the fang sheath

et al. 2001

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A combination of anatomical and experimental preparations were used to explore the function of the venom delivery system in rattlesnakes (Crotalus). The distal end of the venom duct is compressed near the point where it empties into the venom chamber, a space surrounding the fang defined by the fang sheath. Within the venom chamber, the inner fang membrane lies obliquely over the base of the fang at least partially occluding the entrance orifice. When the fang is retracted the combination of the compressed venom duct and the spatial position of the inner fang membrane serve to inhibit or block venom flow. As the fang is erected beyond approximately 60°(relative to the roof of the mouth) localized compression of the fang sheath decreases the size of the venom chamber, relieves the compressive force from the venom duct, and displaces the inner fang membrane away from the entrance orifice of the fang. Pressure recordings taken at different locations along the venom delivery system demonstrate that the venom gland produces suction during relaxation of the extrinsic glandular musculature. These findings suggest that the venom delivery system of Crotalus is both more flexible and more regulated than previously assumed. Anat Rec 264: [415][416][417][418][419][420][421][422][423][424][425][426] 2001.

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Activity of Head Muscles During Feeding by Snakes: A Comparative Study

Cited by 85 publications

References 33 publications

Predatory strike of the tentacled snake (Erpeton tentaculatum)

Predatory strike of the tentacled snake (Erpeton tentaculatum)

Are ontogenetic shifts in diet linked to shifts in feeding mechanics?Scaling of the feeding apparatus in the banded watersnakeNerodia fasciata

Mechanics of venom expulsion in Crotalus, with special reference to the role of the fang sheath

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