Herpetological Myth Busting: Snake Teeth

Herpetological Myth Busting: Snake Teeth

           There is a common misconception that only venomous snakes have teeth, and non-venomous snakes do not have teeth; therefore they cannot bite; however, that is not the case. All snakes have teeth. These teeth are curved backwards, which enables them to swallow their prey. These “hook-like” teeth keep prey from escaping from the snake’s mouth. Snake teeth are able to re-grow when lost, a process called polyphydont, and they are attached to the bone, also known as acrodont. Poisonous snakes have an additional set of teeth known as fangs. There are either grooved fangs or hollow fangs. Grooved fangs are teeth that have a groove that is the path in which the venom flows from the snake’s venom glands to the prey. Hollow fangs are comparable to a hypodermic needle filled with venom. According to Animal Planet, these hollow fangs can be either fixed or erectile. The erectile teeth retract back when not in use, but fixed fangs remain extended and do not retract back into the mouth.

            This misconception persists because of the emphasis put on the fact that snakes are dangerous. Many people are scared of snakes in general, because they have not been properly educated on the difference between poisonous and harmless snakes. I believe many people believe snakes are dangerous and venomous, because they genuinely believe they all have venomous fangs. In a recent study published in the Psychological Science journal, psychologists showed images to adults and three-year-old children of a frog or flower surrounded by snakes. The study found that “both groups were able to identify the hidden snake faster than the other hidden objects”. In my opinion, movies, media, and society negatively influence people to be afraid of snakes. I have believed this herpetology myth myself! I’ve known that venomous snakes have fangs to inject venom, but I did not know that all snakes had teeth! I thought that snakes like Pythons squeezed their prey to death, so they did not need teeth to swallow their prey; however, I have learned that teeth are essential to the digestion of prey.

Photos courtesy of:

-http://www.thewatersnake.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1106

-http://epicvelocity.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/3030-moses-got-some-tail/

Citation courtesy of:

-http://www.anapsid.org/myths.html

-http://animal.discovery.com/guides/reptiles/snakes/anatomy_02.html

-http://www.livescience.com/2348-fear-snakes.html