WEBVTT

00:00.966 --> 00:06.733 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
(MUSIC)

00:06.733 --> 00:07.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN, HOST: How do

00:07.966 --> 00:09.266 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
snakes find their dinner?

00:09.266 --> 00:10.666 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Well, some have a special organ

00:10.666 --> 00:11.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
located near their eyes.

00:11.900 --> 00:13.133 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
It helps them to detect small

00:13.133 --> 00:14.300 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
changes in temperature.

00:14.300 --> 00:15.600 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
That helps them find heat given

00:15.600 --> 00:16.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
off by bodies of rodents or

00:16.833 --> 00:18.200 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
other animals they might want to

00:18.200 --> 00:19.233 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
eat.

00:19.233 --> 00:20.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Yum.

00:20.333 --> 00:21.600 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Snakes can eat animals twice

00:21.600 --> 00:22.600 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
their size.

00:22.600 --> 00:23.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
That's because they can open

00:23.833 --> 00:24.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
their jaws extra wide.

00:24.900 --> 00:26.100 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
The bottom of a snake's jaw is

00:26.100 --> 00:27.166 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
only loosely attached to its

00:27.166 --> 00:28.233 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
skull, rather than to

00:28.233 --> 00:29.166 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
its top jaw.

00:29.166 --> 00:30.366 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Most snakes don't chew their

00:30.366 --> 00:31.566 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
food, instead they swallow their

00:31.566 --> 00:33.666 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
prey whole.

00:33.666 --> 00:34.566 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Some snakes, like boas and

00:34.566 --> 00:35.866 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
pythons are called constrictors.

00:35.866 --> 00:37.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
They catch their dinner by

00:37.433 --> 00:38.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
coiling their bodies around

00:38.533 --> 00:39.733 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
their prey and squeezing until

00:39.733 --> 00:41.233 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
the animal stops breathing.

00:41.233 --> 00:42.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
And some snakes, like cobras and

00:42.533 --> 00:43.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
rattlesnakes, shoot a poison

00:43.966 --> 00:45.566 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
called venom into their prey.

00:45.566 --> 00:46.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
The venom weakens

00:46.900 --> 00:48.100 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
or kills their dinner.

00:48.100 --> 00:49.200 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
And then they can

00:49.200 --> 00:50.300 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
swallow it whole.

00:50.300 --> 00:51.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Venomous snakes rarely

00:51.333 --> 00:52.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
bite humans.

00:52.333 --> 00:53.200 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
They only lash out when they

00:53.200 --> 00:54.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
think they are in danger.

00:54.333 --> 00:55.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
So, if you see a snake in the

00:55.533 --> 00:56.766 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
wild, stay well away so it can

00:56.766 --> 00:59.633 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
find dinner on its own.

00:59.633 --> 01:00.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
For more information about

01:00.833 --> 01:01.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
snakes, check out the Science

01:01.833 --> 01:02.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Trek website.

01:02.833 --> 01:03.766 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
You'll find it at

01:03.766 --> 01:04.666 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
ScienceTrek.org