Do snakes yawn?

[uma_and_bill]

I have just watched Angelica the. Oa open her mouth extraordinarily wide for about 15 seconds, do snakes yawn? X

[youngster]

Every animal "yawns" in some way.

The most common reason for snakes is they're just readjusting their jaw.

[SnakeyJay]

Completely normal, I'll catch them every now n then having a big old yawn.. And obviously after eating. Continuously doing it can be signs for a trip to the vets for a possible RI.

[infernalis]

Every animal "yawns" in some way.

The most common reason for snakes is they're just readjusting their jaw.

Not true, I have witnessed virtually all of my snakes yawn when they wake up.

In fact, I find the "wake up" yawns more interesting, as they will sometimes move their bottom jaw side to side while doing it.

[Lankyrob]

My SD retic does it every night between 9:30 and 10 pm, like clockwork. I think it is part yawn and part realignment. All my other snakes do it also but not as often as him.

[CDN_Blood]

"Yawning" is how they keep their jaw head limber as well as realign their jaws or teeth. Being ambush predators for the most part, it's important that they keep those muscles limber in preparation for something edible that may walk by.

[bladeblaster]

Every animal "yawns" in some way.

.

I have never seen a snail yawn?

[KSTAR]

I've saw mine yawn here and there usually after they eat they do

[hellosugaree]

Yes. They yawn and it's cute

[youngster]

I have never seen a snail yawn?

I imagine you wouldn't, unless you stare at snail's mouths for hours on end, in which case I think we have a bigger problem on our hands ;)

I meant something more like, every animal opens its mouth wide for some reason or another.

[hellosugaree]

"Yawning" is how they keep their jaw head limber as well as realign their jaws or teeth. Being ambush predators for the most part, it's important that they keep those muscles limber in preparation for something edible that may walk by.

It's possible, but does that mean people also do it for the same reason? If not, why do people yawn? Just because something makes a cute story, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's true. In many cases the "hummingbirds have long beaks to reach nectar" explanations are reliable. However, in some cases it's not always as simple as it might seem. The most obvious explanation is not always correct.

Remember how you were always taught the giraffe has a lock neck so it can reach food on higher branches? While it makes for a cute explanation, it may not be the case. In fact, at least one study showed that during the dry season, when selective pressures related to feeding behaviors would be strongest, giraffes actually feed from lower shrubs. In times when food is scarce, neck height doesn't confer a selective advantage. Long necks might more likely be related to sexual selection due to male combat. http://www.blc.arizona.edu/courses/schaffer/182/Giraffe/WinningByANeck.pdf

This is really an aside, but just thought it worthwhile to point out that nature isn't always so simple ;) I'm not saying the snake yawn doesn't function to keep their jaw limber to make them effective ambush predators--this could very well be possible and I have no way to prove otherwise, short of conducting a study of snake yawning behavior and feeding success. However, unless you cite a source that has done some research showing that snakes that yawn more often catch more food or something to that effect, then the jury is still out on what it really means. Nature is a tricky one to figure out sometimes.

Best,

Tim

[jaleely]

lol that is a pretty thin devil's advocate stance. Sure, that is true that we don't know 100% but.... yeaaahhh....

Snakes sleep, snakes yawn, and snakes open and stretch their mouths for alignment.