Snakes: Constriction - National Zoo| FONZ

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Reptile Discovery Center

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Constriction: Putting on the Squeeze

A constrictor strikes by biting and holding on to its prey.

Then it loops its body around the prey.

By tightening the loop, the snake prevents the flow of blood from the prey's heart to its brain and other major organs.

How to Swallow Something Bigger Than Your Head

Start with a flexible skull, backward-curved teeth, and very elastic skin.
Swallow the prey head first.
"Walk" your teeth over the prey, one side of the jaw at a time.
Produce lots of saliva to ease the prey down your throat.

What a Mouthful!

If you had a head like a snake's, you could swallow a loaf of bread whole! The snake's lower jaw widens to make room for its meal, and its curved teeth pull the food backward into the mouth and throat.

African pancake tortoise: African pancake tortoise
Malacochersus tornieri
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Geochelone gigantea
Alligator snapping turtle: Alligator snapping turtle
Macroclemys temminckii
Australian snake-necked turtle: Australian snake-necked turtle
Chelodina longicollis
Black ratsnake: Black ratsnake
Elaphe obsoleta (obsoleta)
Boa constrictor: Boa constrictor
Boa constrictor
Brazilian rainbow boa: Brazilian rainbow boa
Epicrates cenchria (cenchria)
Burmese python: Burmese python
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Cottonmouth: Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus
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Crocodylus rhombifer
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Terrapene carolina
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Tylototriton shanjing
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Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni
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Bothriechis schlegelii
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Cyclura lewisi
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Eunectes murinus
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Eublepharis macularius
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Boiga dendrophila
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Tiliqua scincoides
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Oriental fire-bellied toad: Oriental fire-bellied toad
Bombina orientalis
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