Snakes Eat Their Own Hearts
Can you imagine being hungry enough to eat your own heart and able to survive after?
Researchers have been examining snakes for clues of ways to improve the survival rates of humans and animals during long periods without food. Jennifer Viegas reports in the Discovery News dated Aug. 20, 2007 that certain snakes have been known to survive for two years without food. Their survival has not been without cost, however.
A researcher and author, Marshall McCue conducted a study which was published in Zoology, examining the physiology of snake starvation. He studied 64 snakes, weighing and measuring them before and after the 168 day study noting remarkable weight loss and energy levels. McCue stated that snakes expended an average of 80% less energy during the experiment only making a move when they thought there was food available, and lost an average of 24.4% of their body mass.
What was remarkable was that they grew longer, and their bone structure in their heads had grown allowing for a wider range of prey to be swallowed. Another remarkable discovery was that the snakes digested part of their own heart muscle, which they would be able to rebuild after a nutritious meal.
Snakes Do Not Normally Stalk their Prey
Aaron Rundus, a researcher from the University of Nebraska, who also studies snakes states that snakes are able to survive under the worst of conditions. One reason for this according to Rundus is that snakes do not stalk their victims but wait for them to “cross their paths.” Except maybe in this story found released by the Associated Press:
Family Dog Killed By Python
The press release dated February 27, 2008 reported a news item about a 16-foot python who had stalked a family dog for days before swallowing it whole in front of two terrified children. These young children, aged 5 and 7 lived near Kuranda in Queensland State when their beloved terrier-Chihuahua was last seen alive. The family had seen the snake in the dog’s bed a few days prior, a sign that the snake may have been waiting for his window of opportunity.
Wildlife S.O.S. Gives Us Many Interesting Facts About Snakes
Although generally snakes do not show any paternal interests, the King Cobra is an exception to the rule. Mother snakes will actually construct a nest for her young, but make it a point to leave the nest just prior to her offspring (20-50 eggs) hatching. It is believed the reason for her leaving at that point is to prevent from eating her own young. The male king cobra has patrolled the area until this point, keeping unwanted visitors away.
The King Cobra is unique in another way. It eats almost only snakes, with the rat snake being its favorite meal.
Because hatched young snakes do not have any parents to look after them, they hatch on their own breaking out of their eggs using their fine little teeth. The cobra is born with the ability to defend itself.
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Credit: Guido Westhoff.
Spitting cobra takes aim at a human face. Credit: Frank Luerweg/University of Bonn.
Snakes do not dislocate their jaw in order to consume larger prey, but their jaws contain two halves which are not rigidly attached in addition to various other joints in their skull. These allow snakes to open their mouths very wide.
In an article written by Michael Schirber entitled “Deadly Aim: Cobras Really Do Shoot for the Eyes” Michael states “A spitting cobra can launch its venom well across the average dinner table.”
A cobra’s venom contains neurotoxins and tissue-attacking poisons. When these poisons make contact with the victim’s eye they will cause excruciating pain and possibly blindness. Researchers put some cobras through tests at the University of Bonn finding that cobras rarely miss, although they “cheat” a bit by shaking their heads from side to side as they spit.
If one is bit by a cobra they have more to fear than blindness because the poison interferes fatally with the respiratory system. Fortunately humans are not a cobra’s idea of dinner.
Picture by Sofa
While you are probably aware that they are found in trees and in the sea, did you know snakes burrow underground?
Snakes regularly shed their skin, often leaving the discarded skin in one piece. This term is referred to as molting.
A pit viper has a unique thermal sensitive nasal pit which enables them to locate prey based on a temperature that is just a fraction warmer than their own. A snake collects airborne particles on its tongue and then passes them to a special organ in his mouth called Jacobson’s Organ which examines these particles, similar to the way that people smell.
There is over 3,000 varieties of snakes in the world, most of which live in warmer climates because the snake relies on the sun for most of its heat.
The Python can measure seven meters long, with a meter being approximately 39.3 inches.
The Brahiminy blind snake measures two inches in length and anaconda can reach a length of 38 feet.
The King Cobra’s venom is strong enough to kill an elephant.
Snakes do not blink. They do not have eye lids.
The Antiguan racer, a gentle brown harmless snake found in Antigua is in danger of extinction. Their eggs were eaten by the rat and Mongoose. The Mongoose also ate the snakes, the cattle trampled and civilization ran them out along with natural disasters such as floods and quakes.
A snake known as the paradise tree-snake soars through the air by flattening itself and balancing in the air much like a tight rope walker.
Being that there are approximately 3,000 varieties of snakes I am sure that there are lots more facts to be found, but I’ll leave you with these few.
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41 Responses to “Snakes Eat Their Own Hearts”
On April 12, 2008 at 6:24 pm
very interesting article, i have read a lot and watch a lot about snakes, but from time to time there are still a lot of new interesting things about snakes like this one, thanks for the read Judy.
On April 12, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Fascinating article.
On April 12, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Thank you both Countrymom and Nobert for reading and commenting.
Take care.
On April 12, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Lots of information…Great Pictures…I have the goosebumps now..and light headed. Great Job Judy
KathySpring
On April 12, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Wow, fact packed article, with loads of stuff I didn’t know. Fancy eating their own hearts!
On April 12, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Nice article and I do believe it will go to the top ten
On April 12, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Wonderful and very comprehensive..
I like the how you write about it, with so many facts..
On April 12, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Kathy, Dee, Rupok93, and Icy, thank you so much for reading and encouraging. Snakes give me the willies but I found the information fascinating.
On April 13, 2008 at 3:21 am
Fascinating article, Judy.
On April 13, 2008 at 7:53 am
Valli, thank you for reading and commenting.
On April 13, 2008 at 11:32 am
Great article, Judy, and very interesting.
On April 13, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Thank you, Louie for reading and commenting. Your encouragement is appreciated.
On April 13, 2008 at 7:23 pm
An enjoyable read. I once saw a snake swallow a rabbitt. I could hardly believe my eyes and it took a long time but the snake got it down.
On April 13, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I know it’s part of the food chain, but I’d rather not see it.
On April 14, 2008 at 9:28 am
Lovely article about snakes Judy. You must have done a lot of research to write this. Very clearly and concisely expressed and great writing. Well done!
On April 14, 2008 at 9:35 am
Thanks for this interesting article!Take care!
On April 14, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Anne & Chan, again I appreciate your encouragement. Take care.
On April 27, 2008 at 9:50 am
really fascinating…
On April 27, 2008 at 11:01 am
Hi Alexa, great to see you back. Thanks for reading.
Take care.
On April 27, 2008 at 11:05 am
Hi Alexa, great to see you back. Thanks for reading.
Take care.
On April 27, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Very informative.Thank You.
On April 27, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I really like the spitting cobra. They rarely miss? That’s a pretty accurate snake right there considering the target is rather small. Great research.
On April 27, 2008 at 1:17 pm
WOW! Already knew to stay away from them but really hate them now. Glad we don’t have many to worry about here in Michigan.
On April 27, 2008 at 4:30 pm
U.B. Pili, Jared and Nick, thanks for reading and commenting.
So Nick, jobs aren’t the only thing scarce in Michigan, huh? Well, at least we don’t earthquakes or tidal waves either. I think I’ll stay. lol
On April 28, 2008 at 2:01 pm
…took me a while to get myself to
read this, as I can’t say that I like
snakes, but the information is remarkable.
Thank you.
On April 28, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Quiet Voice, I don’t care much for snakes myself. Thanks for reading.
On April 30, 2008 at 10:44 am
Where I grew up, us kids used to find what we called garden snakes, those skinny harmless things. We used to catch them by the tail and whip them around and send them flying.
Cruel? Perhaps. But so is spitting poison in your eye.
Great article. Very interesting.
On April 30, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Shelly, thank you for reading. Some how I can’t find sympathy in my heart for a snake. Other creatures, yes.
On May 2, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Wow. What an interesting piece. Very informative and thorough. You really did your research. N…
On May 2, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Nancy, thank you for reading and commenting.
On May 4, 2008 at 10:34 am
Can snakes become man’s friend? We fear snakes unnecessarily. If we try to harm them knowingly or unknowingly it will react spontaneously. You did a great job in bringing out some amazing facts about snakes and their behavior.
On May 4, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Gijo, They may be fascinating, but I still don’t feel that they are friendly. lol
On August 2, 2008 at 1:00 pm
interesting artical about snakes. i never that they could eat bits of their heart to stay alive.
you get some beautiful coloured snakes, but i still wouldn’t keep one.
On August 2, 2008 at 8:51 pm
John, I don’t care how pretty their coloring is, I don’t want one either!
On August 14, 2008 at 8:18 am
Good article Judy, I’ve never heard that about them eating own hearts though.
On August 14, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Karen N, thanks so much for reading.
Take care.
On September 27, 2008 at 10:32 pm
what about eating there own eyeballs, do they eat there own eyeballs is it really true or not and i love the facts about snakes who ever researches them you guys are awesome!!!!!!!!
On September 28, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Julia, I haven’t heard about snakes eating their own eyes, but I imagine they would eat any other accessible ones.
Thanks for reading and take care.
On January 14, 2009 at 4:48 pm
wow this waasss so awesome hope you make more bye.
On April 17, 2009 at 12:07 pm
eww.
On May 4, 2009 at 2:21 pm
amazing! being able to eat part of their own heart?! thats both Fascinating and disturbing…
thanks for the fun read!
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