Most snakes do have teeth, snakes need teeth to hunt and to eat.

How many teeth do snakes have?

Its hard to guess this as different types of snakes have different amounts of teeth, however snake teeth are usually in rows, specifically six rows.

Normally they have one row on each side of the snakes lower jaw and two rows on each side of the snakes upper jaw.

Types of Snake Teeth

froSo what are snake teeth called?

Snake teeth are grouped into a variety of categories depending on the type of snake species they are.

These groups are…

Aglyphous– These snake teeth look like they don’t have grooves, these teeth are very similar in shape and size and most snakes have these that are non venomous. These snakes do not have fangs.

Snakes with these types of teeth are usually from the Boa and Python family.

Opsthoglyphous– The shape of these snake teeth are more rounded and the teeth in the back of their jaw are much bigger.

Why?

The reason for the size of the snakes teeth is so venom is injected as it comes from the rear fangs.

Why is the venom here?

Species of snake with these teeth must move prey to the back of the mouth as quickly as possible, this is where the venom is injected.

Snakes with these types of teeth are usually from the Hognose and Garter snake family.

 

Proteroglyphous– these are the snakes who have fangs.  This means the shape of the snakes teeth are forward grooved.

How many teeth do these species of snake have?

Very few apart from huge front fangs.  The fangs of these species point downwards and a short and hollow.

How do theses snakes eat?

They need to hold onto their prey in order to inject their venom, this means they must be a powerful snake who takes their chances well!

These type of teeth are found in the Cobra and coral snake famalies.

Solenglyphouse– Again these are snakes who have fangs. The shape of these teeth are pipe grooved.

Where are the fangs on this snake?

They are located at the roof of the mouth and are folded upwards

Are snake teeth poisonous?

No snakes are VENOMOUS. These teeth store large amounts of venom making them deadly to their prey.

These type of teeth are normally found in viper and rattlesnake famalies

Snake Venom

Over millions of years snakes have evolved in order to stay alive, venom plays a part in doing this.

Different snake species have different levels of venom, each evolving to adapt to their environment.

What is snake venom?
Venom comes from the salivary glands in the mouth.  

Snake venom is just saliva mixed with more toxic enzymes and venom can be injected many ways depending on the species of snake.

Structure of Snake Teeth

They are hollow in the middle so venom can be injected.

They appear to grow “bigger” as they come towards shedding their teeth but a fact about snake teeth is that they dont grow “bigger” but instead more of the tooth is exposed to the outside environment as the new tooth is pushing the old one out.

Its just we see more of the tooth, it doesnt actually grow in size.

Why do snake teeth fall out?

They do this to survive, blunt fangs means no food and no food means no snake.

Snakes teeth need to be sharp so they can catch their prey securly, especially in those species who have Proteroglyphous teeth as we learnt before.

Do snake teeth grow back?

Yes they do. It’s common for some snake species to shed and regrow their teeth every six to eight weeks.

This is more common in venomous snakes so that their teeth are newly sharp.

 

Facts on Snake Teeth…

Do all snakes have teeth?

Yes all snakes have teeth, they have to so they can eat. But only some species of snake have fangs, these are venonmous snakes.

Fangs are different because they are used to penetrate further into the prey so the snake can inject venom, whereas teeth are mostly used to grasp food and give the inital attack.

Can a snakes teeth be removed?

Yes, this is mostly displayed in venonmous snakes however the snakes teeth will continue to grow.

This procedure is very painful for the snake and should not be considered unless for medical reasons.

Can you remove the venom from a snake?

Yes, this is done in a variety of ways mostly for research reasons to prevent death in humans.

Usually the snake will be forced to strike at a jar topped with mesh, the venom will drip through the jar and is then collected where anti venom can be produced.

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