How Boa Constrictors Kill Prey

[REM955]

This just popped up on my news feed. Interesting idea.
TL;DR:
Snakes cutoff the blood flow to kill, not the air supply.
By virtue of the fact that this is a new article, I would think that this new to not only myself. Just thought it may interest a few people here, viable or not.

We've been wrong about how boa constrictors kill this whole time - ScienceAlert

[trailblazer295]

So they are even cooler then we thought?

[REM955]

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

So they are even cooler then we thought?

At least more efficient.

[SnoopySnake]

I've heard it before, it makes much more sense, too. It's a lot less work to cut off blood flow than oxygen.

[Albert Clark]

I always thought that as the prey was constricted the snake sensed the expansion of the chest wall and then tightened more and more with every breath. Thus , inability to breathe. Ok though.

[Mmrseed]

It seems like it's a combination of both depending on where the animal is being constricted. Much like an MMA choke hold a snake could restrict blood flow to cause an animal to pass out and go brain dead and/or restrict breathing and cause suffocation

[prairiepanda]

I think in most cases both are happening, but the circulation impedance kills the animal faster than asphyxiation alone would, either by stopping the heart or cutting off blood flow to the brain.

[Mad Max]

And they also know if they're doing a good job at it or not...

BBC Nature - Boa constrictor snakes sense prey's fading heartbeat

[kuester]

Snakes are so amazingly designed! i do believe it is a combination of both as well though.

[REM955]

Thank you for the heart beat article. Nice addition.

[PatrickT]

You know what amazes me? How they label long known stuff s news.

That snakes do not suffocate but stop the blood flow is long known. I found an article about that in my old biology book from school and ven in the old GU book from my dad. lol