New research has revealed that venomous snakes calculate angles and adjust their fangs before striking prey, with some species striking in as little as 60 milliseconds. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, used slow-motion footage to document the bite mechanics of 36 snake species from three families: vipers, elapids, and colubrids.
Vipers, such as the sharp-nosed pit viper, strike within 100 milliseconds and 'walk' their fangs forward into a better position before injecting venom. 'When the snake is about to hit their prey the vipers are actually able to fold out their fangs,' said co-author Prof Alistair Evans of Monash University.
Elapids, including the rough-scaled death adder and Cape coral snake, tend to sneak up and bite repeatedly. They have permanently erect, shorter fangs. 'Multiple biting … contracts the muscles around the venom gland,' Evans explained. Colubrids, like the mangrove snake, have fangs at the back of the mouth and must open wider to bite, sawing their jaws to cut into prey.
The researchers also captured a rare event where a blunt-nosed viper's fang snapped off during a strike. 'This is likely how fang loss during feeding most often occurs, but this is the first time it has been caught on camera,' they noted. Snakes replace lost fangs throughout their lives.
Lead author Dr Silke Cleuren tested the snakes at Venomworld near Paris. Dr Alessandro Palci of Flinders University said the study 'fills gaps in our knowledge of snakes’ striking behaviour' and correlates well with fang anatomy.
