Section 18.2-- Snakes: The Most Widespread Reptiles Flashcards
legless vertebrates with long, cylindrical bodies covered with dry scales
are more widely distributed than lizards
snakes
one of the smallest snakes
blind snake
largest known snakes
Asian python
S. American anaconda
the longest snake of N. America
indigo snake
a long chain of vertebrae designed to allow the snake to bend easily
vertebral column
most snakes move by ________________
bends into a series of curves as it keeps its body flat on the ground
lateral undulation
many thick bodied snakes such as African puff adders and Asian pythons, use _____________________ when stalking prey
when the snake alternately stretches and shortens segments of its body to creep forward in a straight line
rectilinear movement
method of movement used by snakes to move across smooth surfaces or to climb through trees
concertina movement (scrunches up)
desert-dwelling snakes use _______________ to cross the sand
lifts several parts of body and the head to move sideways
sidewinding movement
the fastest known snakes is the
black mamba
the four methods of snake locomotion are
lateral undulation
rectilinear movement
concertina movement
sidewinding movement
the snake’s lower jaws are mot attached directly to the skull but are attached to a separate _______________ which loosely attaches to skull to the lower jaw on each side
quadrate bone
a snake’s primary instrument of smelling
forked tongue
the snake flicks out its tongue to pick up scents in the air,when the snake retracts its tongue, these scent particles are carried to the _________________
two cavities in the roof of its mouth containing nerve endings that are extremely sensitive to odor
Jacobson’s organ
enables many snakes to eat prey larger than their mouth
double-hinged jaws
