The Brisbane region has been delivering hot humid weather throughout January resulting in large numbers of snake sightings and a continuation in the high volume of callouts experienced by our snake catchers throughout December. Carpet pythons and tree snakes continue to be the most common culprits – turning up everywhere from back yards to […]
Anyone lucky enough to observe a snake will likely notice that the animal constantly flicks its tongue as it negotiates its environment. The reason for this is that snakes have something called the Jacobson’s organ that provides a particularly interesting sense – chemoreception. This organ is part of the olfactory system and is comprised of a patch […]
Humans tend to anthropomorphise other animals, thinking of their interactions, failings and abilities in a human context. While this can often make it easy for us to conceptualize complex ecological processes, it regularly fails us when considering highly adapted animals. Snakes are one such group. So what senses are important for snakes and how do […]
Snakes can fast for a number of months after consuming a large meal. Recent research looking at physiological effects of feeding in Indian Pythons (Python molorus) shows the snakes organs undergo substantial changes that remain for the entire digestive process – in this case up to 8 days. These included up to a 30% increase […]
Being limbless offers snakes a number of advantages but ease of feeding is not one of them! A snakes body plan just doesn’t equip them with the necessary tools to effectively tear prey items into manageable sized pieces. They are however amazingly adapted for the consumption of whole, large prey items that basic physics should […]
