Herpetology

Typhlopidae

Family of snakes known as blindsnakes, characterized by reduced eyes covered in translucent scales and teeth on maxillary bone only.

Uropeltidae

Family of snakes known as shield tails and earthsnakes, featuring small eyes, pointed heads, shiny scales, and truncated tails.

Acrochorididae

Family of aquatic, piscivorous, and nocturnal snakes known as filesnakes, which are viviparous with baggy skin and non-overlapping tubercular scales.

Bolyeridae

Family of snakes distinguished by an intra-maxillary joint and unique feeding adaptations, known as split-jaw snakes.

Pythonidae

Family of large constrictors known as pythons, characterized by labial pit organs and oviparous reproduction.

Boidae

Family of true boas, which are large constrictors that can be terrestrial, arboreal, or aquatic and exhibit viviparous reproduction.

Xenopeltidae

Family of snakes known as sunbeam snakes, composed of one genus and two species.

Elapidae

Family of venomous snakes known as elapids, characterized by proteroglyhpous teeth, oviparous reproduction, and long slender bodies.

Colubridae

Family of snakes known as colubrids, often non-venomous with various tooth types such as A- or opistho-glyphous.

Viperidae

Family of venomous snakes known as vipers, identified by solenoglyphous teeth and typically having triangular heads.

Jacobson’s organ

An organ in snakes that detects chemical cues from the environment, playing a critical role in prey detection.

Venom

A toxic substance that some snakes inject into prey to immobilize or kill them, often delivered through specialized teeth.

Prey capture mechanism

A process involving the strike of a snake to capture prey, facilitated by recurved teeth and kinetic skulls.

Osteoderms

Bony plates found under the skin of crocodilians, serving as armor and assisting in temperature regulation.

Four-chambered heart

The heart structure in crocodilians that includes a special valve allowing blood shunting away from the lungs during prolonged submersion.

Death roll

A behavior exhibited by crocodiles in which they spin their bodies to subdue prey quickly and effectively.

Nictitating membrane

A third eyelid in crocodiles that acts as a protective layer over the eye, aiding in visibility while submerged.

Forked tongues

Samples odors that are then detected by the Jacobson’s organ.

How do snakes detect prey?

Chemical cues, visual cues, touch, and infrared heat detection.

How fast can a snake strike?

 15 to 90 milliseconds

What make snake teeth unique?

Snake teeth are recurved, meaning they curve backwards towards the digestive tract which helps them grip the prey and pull them further into their mouths when they try to escape.

Alligatoridae

alligators and caimans

Crocodylidae

 crocodiles (+ false gharials?)

Gavialidae

gharials (+ false gharials?)

Skull

Crocodile skull is skinny/smushed while alligator skull is wider.

Teeth

Both have enlarged tooth near the front of lower jaw. Crocodiles tooth tends to protude more while alligator’s tooth is hidden (fits into a socket in the upper jaw).

Trunk

Alligators have broad, U-shaped snouts and crocodiles have narrow, V shaped snouts.

Limbs

Alligators have short limbs and webbed feet while crocodiles have long limbs and separated toes.

Tail

Alligators are taller than wider with tall crests of scales and crocodiles tails are flat on the sides with scales that stick up.

Osteoderms

Bony plates under the skin that serve as armor and aid in temperature regulation

Heart

Four-chambered heart with a special valve that allows them to shunt blood away from their lungs during conditions such as prolonged submersion.

Foramina

 A hole that connects the left and right aorta in the heart.

Eyes

Nearly 270 degrees of vision, third eyelid (nictitating membrane) acts as “goggles”, retractable eyeball for protection, tapetum lucidum for enhanced night vision, and a horizontal fovea for scanning the shoreline.