Access
To read this story in full you will need to login or make a payment (see right).
Brief Communications
Nature 402, 369-370 (25 November 1999) | doi:10.1038/46460
Open Innovation Challenges
-
Novel Approaches to Protecting Maize from Insect Damage
The Seeker is looking for novel approaches to protecting maize from insect damage. This Challenge re...
-
Single-cell Analysis Platform
This Challenge is looking for novel approaches to analyzing changes at a single-cell level. This is...
- More Challenges
- Powered by:
nature jobs
Section Chief of Molecular Diagnostics and Medical Director of Molecular Diagnotics Laboratory
- M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Houston, Texas, USA
Sr. Scientific Manager / Chief Scientific Manager- Discovery Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (MAP)
- Syngene International
- Bangalore, Karnataka 560099 India
Feeding by mandibular raking in a snake
Abstract
The tiny threadsnake has a unique way of devouring ants before they can strike back.
Abstract
Most snakes transport prey through the mouth by using asynchronous ratcheting movements of their upper jaws1, 2. In contrast, we have found that threadsnakes (members of the basal snake clade Scolecophidia) have a unique feeding mechanism in which the tooth-bearing elements of the lower jaw rotate synchronously in and out of the mouth, dragging prey into the oesophagus. This mechanism, which we call 'mandibular raking', is the only vertebrate feeding mechanism known in which prey is transported exclusively by movements of the lower jaw.
To read this story in full you will need to login or make a payment (see right).
