First things first, let’s talk about what you can see on the outside of a snake. These external features help snakes navigate their environment, find prey and defend themselves.
Forked Tongue
One of the most recognizable features of snakes is their forked tongue. Snakes flick this unique organ in and out of their mouths, using it to collect particles from the air.
The forked shape helps them pick up chemical signals from both sides of their environment, which they process using a special organ called the Jacobson’s organ (located on the roof of their mouth). This allows them to detect the "scent" of their prey items, as well as navigate and find mates.
Heat-sensing Organs
Found on the faces of species like pit vipers, these organs let snakes detect warm-blooded prey, even in the dark. They can "see" like a thermal camera.
Spectacles
These transparent scales, or spectacles, cover snakes' eyes.
Nostrils
Located on their heads, nostrils help snakes breathe and detect odors.
Scales
Snakes have a few types of scales, including:
- Dorsal scales: Located on the backs of snakes and used for protection and movement
- Ventral scales: Larger, specialized scales on the underside of the snake
- Subcaudal scales: Found on the underside of the tail
Cloaca
An external opening located near the base of the tail, the cloaca is for excretion and reproduction.
Tail
This is the portion of the snake's body after the cloaca, often tapering to a point. Some snakes, like rattlesnakes, have specialized features like a rattle at the tip.
Teeth or Fangs
Nonvenomous snakes have small, recurved teeth, while most venomous snakes have grooved or hollow fangs for delivering venom.
Nuchal Ridge
The ridge along the back of the head or neck that is prominent in some species.