does your snake yawn?

[arkuden]

So here i am sitting at my computer on hour 5 of my homework and i look over to see that echo; my Ball Python has emerged from his daytime hide and is now stretching out at the back of the cage. I watch him for a few minutes and he goes into the biggest yawn ive ever seen. I was kinda worried at first but then i burst out laughing becuase echo is such a lazy little guy that i can just imagine him doing that more often.

Remember that saying that most pets will resemble their owners in one way or another well.... i yawn a lot too!!! Is that scary or what?

[TexasAggie04]

Last night my Carpet python was being aggressive with me from inside his enclosure (he doesn’t like it when I touch or move him inside of it and don’t take him out), so I was waiting his aggression out. This way he would see that my hanging around was not a threat to him. Anyway, he was in the double S and weaving his head back and forth for a while, had struck the plexiglass once, then got more still, then.... BIG YAWN. Went back in his hide. It was like he got bored with me, hah! Made me laugh.

[Invictus]

I've seen pretty much all of my snakes yawn at least once. It's kinda cool to watch. It reminds you sometimes of how much you so DO NOT want to get tagged by them. :D

[Linds]

All my snakes yawn... lol... Invictus hit it right on the nose... when the big guys bring on the yawns it DEFINITELY reminds you how much you don't want to take a hit from them :p :eek:

[Samba]

I love it when my animals (not just my snake) yawn... it's too cute!! =) Maybe I'll post some photos later!! =)

[LdyDrgn]

Didn't you know? They are silently singing their favorite opera!

http://primareptilia.com/gallery/albums/serendipity/yawn.jpg

hehehe

[arkuden]

that was almost exactly how mine looked lol. He took a big yawn and then gave that extra push. hahah thats awesome

[SerpentLust]

*giggles* Mine yawn all the time. They're both lazy! lmao

[lostwithin]

Hey all my snakes yawn as well, but I do not believe it is for the same purpose as a human yawning. Snakes will sometime yawn too get a good perspective of what is around them. The same olfactory receivers that are found on the snakes toung are also found inside the mouth, By taking a "yawn" the snake gets a good/better perspective of what is around them. they also will "yawn" after dislocating there jaws in order too re-align them .

Devon

[mykee]

Bingo Devon! I was waiting for someone to come up with the right answer. Ball pythons especially sleep like 16 hours a day, what have they got to be tired over? LOL...

[JD@reptiles]

its not really yawning... just adjusting its mouth... you will notice it do that alot after it takes down a meal. they dont like there needle sharp teeth poking there mouth.

[Invictus]

How do you explain them doing it completely out of the blue then, even days or weeks after a meal? You cannot tell me they are still adjusting their jaw. Almost all creatures on earth have some kind of yawning mechanism to increase oxygen flow to the body.

[Removed_2815]

I have an old Leopard Gecko that yawns every evening just as he comes out from whatever he was hiding out under during the day. Since he doesn't have any 'unhingeable' jaw bones to reallign like a snake, nor does he have any specialized vomeronasal organ like a snake, it stands to reason that it is merely a yawn as we humans do - as Ken points out, to increase oxygen flow to the body...
Cheers,
Ryan

[Samba]

I agree, yawning has multiple purposes. My boxies yawns a lot, but I believe he's in brumation right now... =)

[arkuden]

i like to think he just my very own lazy little guy that i get to hang out with.... if he wakes up before i sleep lol.

[jjaj02]

HEHE that is so funny. I'm gonna go home and sit there and wait........and wait to see mine yawn. Or maybe I'll just go have a nap. I swear every time I read the word "yawn" I did what it told me too. Im tired now. Thanks a lot. Oh ya and awesome pic LdyDrgn.

[lostwithin]

They do yawn too re-adjust the jaw after eating, but this not the main reason as i said most of the time its too get a better perspective I of there surroundings, yawning increases the number of receptors exposed too the open air, therefore relaying more of/ a better signal too the brain, it makes sense if you really think about it snakes depend greatly on olfactory senses, (there "taste/smelling" of the air, and if a mild sent is picked up that they wish too investigate they can "yawn too expose the number of sensors exposed. , like when you smell cookies baking, you take a deep breath through your nose too smell it better.

I’m not saying they do not yawn like humans do, I have never thought too look into it, But If your ball python( or other boid) comes out for no apparent reason and "yawns" chances are it picked up a sent and came out too investigate. I say boid simply because I haven’t researched other families of snake too say for certain that they do display the same behavior although I have seen reference too rattle snakes doing the same thing so I would think it is the same for all species of snake.

Devon

[lostwithin]

I can "make" my burm yawn no problem at all, simply because he loves too eat the others have too be really hungry, but with my burm if you enter the room with a rat, then remove the rat from the room, my burm will "yawn" as soon as he picks up a bit of rat sent, because he can tell its there but cant tell exactly where. It’s tricky too much sent in the room and he doesn't bother because he can find it with just his toung, but if you manage too do it right, it works like a charm.

Devon

[Invictus]

Devon, this still sounds like more of a theory to me. Do you have any literature to back up that snakes yawn to get a better sense of their surroundings? I've never read anything to even suggest that to be the case. It's not like they have their tongue out when they do it. Added to which, we have several snakes in our living room, and we quite often catch them yawning, like I said, completely out of the blue. No new scents, nothing. I notice it most often in my boas and corns, but I have seen all of my snakes do it at least once.

[lostwithin]

Invictus, I will try too find exact references for you It's been a while since I read it But I'll do my best for you, And as for them doing it out of the blue, It may very well just be a yawn for increased Oxygen flow, but you also have too remember there are thousands of scents that could be floating around the room that humans are completely unaware of. humans have Horrid sense of smell its an evolutionary trade off our species has made, We have an advanced sight sensory with superb depth perception but on the flip side we have all but lost our sense of smell (olfactory) in comparison too other animals.

Devon

[arkuden]

its interesting to know this. I really thought it would have mostly been for the same reasons as humans... well to an extent anyway. I remember the first time i saw my BP; Echo yawn.... i was scared becuase id never seen it before and i had just finnished reading up a bit on Respiratory diseases for snakes lol. Talk about timing.... ohh i think echo is comming out for a bit... lets see if he wants to explore :D

[lostwithin]

Invictus, I was checking and noticed you mentioned the snakes toung not coming out when they "yawn", But if you look up the Jacobson's organ which is the olfactory sensory unit that the snake uses you will find that the snakes toung relays the message from the surrounding air too the top of the mouth, the actual sensors are located on the roof of a snakes mouth. The toung flickering picks up air particles carries them into the mouth then presses them against the roof of the snake’s mouth. When the snake "yawns" it is exposing those sensors too the surrounding air there is no need for the toung since while "yawning" the sensors are in direct contact with the air particles.

arkuden , Sorry about hijacking your post lol,

Devon

[Removed_2815]

Hey Ken,
Although I don't know if lostwithin's information is theory or not - I might have a look through our journal database to see what turns up, however, I can offer the following piece of information. Cat owners may have noticed that after their cat finishes smelling something particularly alluring they will hold their mouth open as if panting. This is known as the flehman response and it is employed by felines to increase the air flow around their vomeronasal organ (vomer and nasal are simply two facial bones in which this organ is situated - the Jacobson's Organ is another name for vomeronasal organ). The reason cats do this is precisely why lostwithin is proposing that snakes yawn - to increase air flow to this olfactory organ. Whether or not it's true I can't say but often why one species exhibits a particular behaviour is why another species does too.
Cheers,
Ryan

[arkuden]

i dont mind at all Devon haha. It was a nice suprise and i got a lot of information out of this.

[JD@reptiles]

If they should bump there jaw on somthing or maybe after a drink somthings not in the right place, they will adjust there mouth.

Originally posted by Invictus
How do you explain them doing it completely out of the blue then, even days or weeks after a meal? You cannot tell me they are still adjusting their jaw. Almost all creatures on earth have some kind of yawning mechanism to increase oxygen flow to the body.

[Paleosuchus]

As for the out of the blue yawning, it could be a number of different reasons. Lostwithin's comprehension on why they do this is great never thought of that. But as JD@reptiles mentioned the slightest thing can "disorganize" there jaws. There jaws are far from being solid( in comparison to ours), there flexible, the bottoms arnt even conected, anything can set them of balance. I guess its like after you eat popcorn and get a kernal stuck in the back of your throut and spend hours probing at it. Hell we have fingers to help us out, they dont the only way they can fix things in there is by opening and closing it. Just my thoughts, Jason

[Invictus]

This is getting absolutely ridiculous. I can't believe the number of wild assed theories that fly around over something so simple. SNAKES YAWN, PEOPLE. Like almost every other creature on earth, they yawn. It's not after drinking, it's not after eating, sometimes they just YAWN. Any creature that has lungs has the ability to yawn. Good lord, this thread is starting to make ME yawn now...

[Invictus]

http://www.uc.edu/news/ebriefs/yawn.htm


I. YAWNING IS UNIVERSAL
A. THE BIRDS DO IT (O.K. THE BEES DON'T DO IT), BUT WE DO TOO
Robert R. Provine, professor of psychology and assistant director of the Neuroscience Program at the University of Maryland - Baltimore County:
Yawning's roots as an instinctive, unconscious, neurologically programmed social process are very ancient and widespread. "Most animals with backbones yawn and even some without. Dogs, cats, rats, snakes, fish, birds and humans all yawn. Fetuses at 11 weeks after conception yawn in utero."

[JD@reptiles]

buddy, calm down. i didn't said they never yawn... most the time they are just adjusting there mouth. if you look carefully at the snake when its doing it, you will see if its yawning or not. look at its throat. but if you have to be right, snakes yawn all the time... this is why i dont post much anymore. you say one thing and somone jumps down anothers throat. though mine wasn't a theory, i read it in a book a while ago. also you'll notice snakes with mouth rott do that a lot too. thanks invictus for googling the answer once agian. any animal with lungs can yawn? do snails yawn? do fish yawn?:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

[Vanan]

Originally posted by Invictus
This is getting absolutely ridiculous. I can't believe the number of wild assed theories that fly around over something so simple. SNAKES YAWN, PEOPLE. Like almost every other creature on earth, they yawn. It's not after drinking, it's not after eating, sometimes they just YAWN. Any creature that has lungs has the ability to yawn. Good lord, this thread is starting to make ME yawn now...

Correction. Snakes have no need to yawn to increase oxygen intake. They hyperventilate. Ever noticed your snakes breathing faster just before they strike their food? They're not "panting" to cool themselves off like most mammals. Also, Ryan's right on the money about the Flehman's response in cats. It's a known fact that snake jaws are "stretchable" via the long quadrate bones and the connecting ligaments.

[Vanan]

Here's a lil experiement for you "non-believers". Take a look closely at a snake "yawning". See if the lungs actually expand together with it. Mammalian diaphragm muscles contract and expand during yawning.

[wyz]

Never !! :D :D :D

http://www.wyzza.ca/album/cornsnake/2002/microbe_190104_2.JPG

WYZ

[lostwithin]

Invictus, I didn’t mean too start anything here, I was just sharing some information that I happened too have. And I’m still looking for those references, I also state that nobody else was wrong because I don't know if they are or not, I have already put out there what I have learned, No need too believe me if you don’t want too. I do have too ask though, why does it bother you too have other ideas stated? It’s just that much more information for everybody too learn.

wyz, Great pic,

Devon

[JD@reptiles]

i dont think he likes being wrong or likes to listen to somone 17 years old.

[Katt]

Hey, yawning to increase oxygen flow isn't necessarily true.

Here are some links about yawning and "the increased oxygen flow" theory, that discredit this theory.

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/yawning.html
http://www.scientificamerican.com/askexpert_question.cfm?articleID=00074524-85CD-1D51-90FB809EC5880000
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3120687&dopt=Abstract

Now before people spout off about "wild assed theories" and not backing up claims, let's see some back up from you.

Yawning doesn't have to be triggered by a single event: be it increasing available scent molecules to the roof of the mouth or adjusting misplaced jaws.

[treegirl]

...wish I would've seen my trantula yawn.....hehehe

[Invictus]

Whether they do it to increase oxygen flow or not, they do yawn. It's a simple mechanism of nature. And yes, I have observed my snakes' lungs expanding when they yawn.

i dont think he likes being wrong or likes to listen to somone 17 years old.

No, I don't like myths, theories, and garbage being propagated when the answer is so simple. And so what if I googled the answer? At least I did that much instead of coming up with insane theories about why they do it. Read the rest of the article I posted. It's quite informative. If you care to actually get INFORMATION, that is. Nice jab though Jordan. I've never taken a personal jab at you, I don't know why you decided to take one at me.

[Vanan]

Whether they do it to increase oxygen flow or not, they do yawn. It's a simple mechanism of nature.

Of what purpose is what the argument's about. Theories or not, facts gotta start from somewhere.

[JD@reptiles]

trying to say i am wrong i took that as a jab.

"At least I did that much instead of coming up with insane theories about why they do it"

what i posted WAS NOT A THEORY.

Google isn't the best for everything considering a lot of stuff is made up now days.

nothing i said was a myth. im glad you see your snake yawn, believe what you wish. all i did was just made a post, sorry if it goes agianst your beliefs.

[Invictus]

Sorry, but a quote like this:

If they should bump there jaw on somthing or maybe after a drink somthings not in the right place, they will adjust there mouth.

????? Since when do they dislocate their jaws when they drink ????

This quote seems to be refuting the fact that they yawn in the first place. The question posed was not "why do snakes yawn" it was "do snakes yawn?". You, and a couple of other people seemed to deny that they do. That's what got my feathers ruffled, because the FACT is, they do yawn.

And sure, a lot of stuff is made up... that's why I posted an article written by someone who has a PhD. I don't just believe everything I read, I consider the source. And since studies are now contradicting the DECADES-old belief that the purpose of yawning is to increase oxygen to the blood, I guess we'll never know why snakes do it until we know why humans do it.

Do you see my point?

[lostwithin]

ok, I didn’t just through it out there, I added simple facts too show how it works I some simple Biology about the Jacobson’s organ, Now that doesn’t prove it too be more then a theory but your little quote didn’t prove your explanation too be a theory either, And I will hopefully find exact references I'm sure in the end there is more then one reason for a wide opened mouth in a snake. But I was far from lying or even spreading a myth. Its simple biological function, anybody truly interested in this subject can look it upon there own, no sense starting fights about it online.

Devon

[Vanan]

How's this folks. I just fed one of my adult female hogs and right after she got the meal down to her belly, she gaped her mouth and moved her jaws side to side. Now would you call that a yawn or what? I guess I need an article from Copeia or something to convince you Ken.

[Ron]

OMG this thread is too much.

My snakes seem to stretch their mouths open from time to time; are they actually yawning the way we do? Who knows....who really cares?

[lostwithin]

I think the word "yawn" is causing a problem, a wide gaping mouth is what im talking about, yes If snakes actually yawn then they not only would be opening there mouths too full gape, but also taking in as much air as possible in which case the purpose of doing so would be too increase the O2 in the body. And stretching the gape again too the full capacity after dislocating the jaw after a meal or strike would have the purpose of re-aligning it. In my case I am simply stating that at one point in my studying of the species I came across information stating that IF a snake picks up a sent that he needs a clearer reading of what is there they will open there mouth too a open gape exposing the sensors of the Jacobson’s organ directly too the air too pick up more of a sent.
There is no need for all this childish nonsense it completely defeats the purpose of sharing information.

Devon

[Vanan]

Here's something which discredits the yawning to increase oxygen flow.

Greco et al. ( 1993) found that most of their survey respondents believed that too little oxygen or too much carbon dioxide were the main causes of yawning (i.e., the respiratory hypothesis). At best, the respiratory hypothesis is incomplete-for example, both boredom and seeing other people yawn are potent causes of yawning. Breathing faster or more deeply is a more effective way of increasing oxygen intake and expelling carbon dioxide than a single deep inspiration, especially since a period of apnea usually follows a yawn (Hauptmann, 1920; Lehman, 1979). Nevertheless, the hypothesis has been widely held since its mysterious origins in the 19th century (Dumpert, 192 1 ).

The article can be found here. http://webperso.easyconnect.fr/baillement/texte-baenninger-yawning.pdf

are they actually yawning the way we do? Who knows....who really cares?

I guess some of us do, hence the purpose of this thread. If you don't care, don't read further.

[lostwithin]

Wow this topics going all over the place, if we are talking about actual yawning in humans, I believe the main purpose is due too low oxygen counts. But there also would have too be some sort of physiological trigger as well hence the yawning when you see or even hear somebody else yawn. In the case of being tired or bored I don’t know the reason In order too completely understand you would have too find out exactly what happens in the human body at these times, I would assume the being bored is the same reason as getting tired. and my guess and this is just a GUESS is that when you become tired something occurs in your body i.e. change of heart rate/ constriction of blood vessels something of the sort that prepares the body for the act of sleeping, and if I were too guess I would say that while the body is going through this change the brain momentarily reads low O2 hence the yawn too balance it back out before actually sleeping.

Now I pulled that right out of my a** its completely what I would call a well thought out guess. But like I said I haven’t actually tried too study yawning .

Devon

[JD@reptiles]

Originally posted by Invictus
????? Since when do they dislocate their jaws when they drink ????

Did I say they dislocate there jaws? no i did not. snakes dont dislocate there jaw anyways, did you google that too?

[JD@reptiles]

look what i found on google: http://hometown.aol.com/jabberblahgoodly/

[iheartclutch]

I came accross this thred by accident and just had to sign up for the forum so that I could reply.</p>With my 8 balls I believe that I have witnessed about a million snake yawns. They yawn after eating, they yawn after drinking, they yawn after they wake up, they yawn after going to the vet, they yawn in the bath, and they yawn sitting on the couch watching TV. They yawn alot if they have a RI. </p>I do not think that a single person disputes the fact that a snake yawns. It is sad that a very cute post about someone experiencing their first snakie yawn has turned into this. Ken, I believe that you need to open up your mind a little bit. My snakes realign their jaws after rubbing against something the wrong way all of the time. The realigning is especailly aggressive if I decide to be nosey and check out their tonsils:-) I kind of feel like you are just blowing off everyone else's posts. You could be wrong. Why not? Everyone is wrong sometimes...even me:-)</p>It is great that y'all care about why your snake yawns...it is imporant to know what is going on with your snake to give it propper care. Excessive yawning can be a sign of RI. It was one of the best clues that let me get one of my snakes treated before the RI got too bad. </p>Arkuden, enjoy your snake. I like to make a big deal whenever my snakes yawn. Exclaiming SNAKIE YAWN! is fun.

[Scales Zoo]

You guys are all so wrong it is pathetic. You are all pathetic pond scum - I can't beleive how wrong all of you are, way off, way way off.

Snakes yawn because they are bored, it is a proven fact.

Have you ever seen your snakes do this when moving? No, didn't think so, they do it when they are sitting around, bored.

Ryan

[Vanan]

You are all pathetic pond scum


Do you have proof do back up your "wild-assed" claims? ;) :p
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No offense Ken. Just a lil humour to liven things up. :D:D:D:D

[JD@reptiles]

lmao. sheesh. ryan taking jabs at all of us now, lol. what kind of pond scum are we talking about here?

[Scales Zoo]

On a serious note however, snakes do yawn to get their bones and jaws re-aligned.

But they also yawn out of the blue. As was also said, science isn't really sure why humans yawn. Tiredness, boredom, oxygen, stress - there are many things that seem to make people yawn, maybe the same is true for snakes.

Maybe you are all a little bit right, they yawn for many reasons.

I'm still betting on boredom, however.

Ryan

[Katt]

I'd rather be pond scum than be one of you people. You "herpers".

BTW Jordan, that link was hysterical!!

[Gary D.]

The human yawn has no psychological nor phisiological purpose. What actually happens is that there is a minute bio-electrical pulse which triggers the bio-locating gamma pulse emmiter implanted in the hypothalamus. The gamma pulse then alerts the xenological mother race that you mind and body are nearing a state most susceptable to abduction, and your global position. Similarly this pulse has the effect of momentary paralysis of the facial muscles.

Snakes just do it because it looks cool.

[HetForHuman]

I'm with Gary.

LMAO!!!

[JD@reptiles]

sorry for making a personal jab invictus...

[Jungle Jen]

I know when I read some of the links on research studying yawns, it triggered me to yawn. Food for thought?

Read this link in particular... http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/yawning.html

[arkuden]

iheartclutch -- welcome to ssnakess.com haha what a way to start. Thank you very much, I plan on enjoying every opportunity i can with my ball. Someday when im done with this crappy college i plan on getting more. Maybe not 8 hehe but a few to start with. And yes.. SNAKIE YAWN IS FUN!!! :) :)

for the rest of you.... i live in a farily small town in the middle of minnesota that is not very diverse in hobbies i guess so i dont really have any one to share my experiences with my ball python with. I also share a house with 5 other guys, we all fight everyday as none of us get along. Im not too fond on leaving one setting of hostility only to find it in the next place i would want to go. From what i know most people here are full grown adults and probably alot older than I. (19) yet i dont understand what this had to turn angry, Im sure you all know what you are talking about and have good sources for the reasons that snaks may or may not yawn. I dont find any one to be more right than the other. Im glad that there were so many reasons and so many people were willing to contribute their opinion or findings with the rest of us. Honestly unless this is going to be on double jeapordy i dont think i need to go to these lengths to find out the truth :) id love for the discussion on this topic to continue as it is interesting for me, but i dont think ill be comming back if all i see are uncalled for remarks in what should be nice smart conversation... now if you will all excuse my my snake appears to be out and id like to play :) Night guys!

[TexasAggie04]

Read my first post, it backs up what Scales Zoo said. I am with him on this one. This thread makes me yawn too.

[lostwithin]

arkuden , You shouldn’t let the fighting stop you from visiting the site, occasionally little pointless arguments burst out. Just ignore them there’s still tons too learn.
As for everyone here being adults, it would all depend on your description of adult I have come across many people who could be quite old in age but still childish too talk too lol. And although I have no idea what age I might sound when I’m talking on forums but I am also only 19. still just a "youngen" in the opinions of some people I come across but I have 8 or so years experience with herps, and about 10 or so researching them. What can I say, it’s my only hobby. (that if you don’t include the Pair of RES I’ve had since I was 5). Age means nothing in my opinion its all it what you’ve done.

Devon

[arkuden]

w00t!!

so i get my snakes cage set up fresh and a lil different. he gets in and i set him down he moves his head to get a view and then he makes a big yawn and goes into his hide where he falls asleep after curling into a ball. haha

[lostwithin]

Ha ha ha now we start an argument over why he yawned that specific time. By the way you may have already answered this but how long have you had him?

Devon

[arkuden]

ive had him since may of 04, he was hatched probably a few weeks before then

Paul