Fabulous Fangs
One of the most amazing specializations that occured during
the many millions of years of animal evolution was the
development by certain snakes of venom glands and fangs by
which tey could inject their venom into oter animals. These
snakes were thus more assured of a kill with each strike at
their prey. The fangs of rattlesnakes and other pit vipers
are two elongated hollow teeth, someting like curved
hypodermic needels, located in front of the upper jaw. When
the jaw is closed, the fangs fold backward and are
protetcted by a sheath of skin. As the snake opens its
mouth to strike, the fangs swing out. At the moment of
striking, the snake's jaws have opened very wide, and the
fangs are pointing forward toward the target. The force of
the snake's strike stabs the fangs into the flesh of the
prey, and venom is injected. The snake's venom is produced
in glands which are loated below and behind its eyes.
These bulging glands, on either side of the head, help gibe
the head a triangular appearance.
When a pit viper strikes, muscles in its head squeeze venom
out of the glands into small duts that enter the base of
the fangs. The venom passes through the hollow channels in
the fangs and enters the body of the victim through a small
hole near the tip of each fang.
Pit vipers' fangs are replaced about every three months by
a pair of new fangs that grow in next to the old ones. The
new fangs attach to the venom ducts before the old fangs
are lost. Sometimes a rattlesnake or Water Moccasin can be
found with an old fang and a new fang next to each other on
the smae side of the jaw. The old fangs are eventually
pulled out and lost when they become embedded in the body
of a prey animal. Revoving a pit viper's fangs does not
make it safe, since new fangs will grow to replace them.
[Hom] [Back To Facts] [Prev] [Next]
This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page