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03-31-15, 02:55 AM
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#1
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Why do snakes yawn?
Other than resetting their jaw after a feed, why would a snake yawn?
I ask because I was chillin' with my new BP tonight, who hasn't taken a meal yet, and he was coiled around my hand relaxing, head resting on me. Then out of nowhere he slowly lifted his head, gave a huuuuge yawn, then set his head down again.
Anyone else experience this?
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03-31-15, 05:21 AM
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#2
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
All the time! I'm not exactly sure but I believe it is reflexive and has something to do with them clearing their airway.
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03-31-15, 05:43 AM
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#3
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
It is often associated with eating and in those cases, they are "resetting" their lower jaws which are dislocated during the eating process.
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JSmith
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03-31-15, 05:56 AM
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#4
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
Also, when crawling around and pressing their faces and mouths against objects the jaws can become misaligned causing a yawn to realign.
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03-31-15, 06:14 AM
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#5
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
They usually yawn to realign their jaws.
I yawn when I talk about yawning. Like I just did right now...
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03-31-15, 11:24 AM
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#6
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
Lol Pareeeee.
Interesting that he just yawned out of nowhere then. It was really cute and neat though to see him do it.
Is it a sign that he's relaxed as well? Like, a snake wouldn't yawn if they were stressed out, would they?
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"THE Reptiholic"
I stopped counting at 30....
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03-31-15, 03:48 PM
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#7
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minkness
Lol Pareeeee.
Interesting that he just yawned out of nowhere then. It was really cute and neat though to see him do it.
Is it a sign that he's relaxed as well? Like, a snake wouldn't yawn if they were stressed out, would they?
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I'm going to be to the point as I don't have much time so don't take offense please.
If it's relaxed it would be eating for you. Ball pythons are pretty simple when it comes to this. No stress = eating.
I'm sure it'll eat for you soon.
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03-31-15, 04:04 PM
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#8
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
Thanks for that insite, but if it's not that he's relaxed, why would he yawn out of nowhere? He was chilling for quite a while, not bumping his head on anything, ect.
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"THE Reptiholic"
I stopped counting at 30....
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04-01-15, 06:00 AM
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#9
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minkness
Thanks for that insite, but if it's not that he's relaxed, why would he yawn out of nowhere? He was chilling for quite a while, not bumping his head on anything, ect.
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Maybe the same reason we yawn. Extra oxygen to the brain to "wake up".
That's my only guess.
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04-01-15, 08:31 AM
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#10
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
IMO, it really is reflexive, and happens intermittently. Peace.
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04-01-15, 11:48 AM
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#11
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
Oh, so it could be needing oxygen like us, or maybe he rubbed his face at some point and just decided to fix his jaw at that moment......Makes sense....Thanks for the info!
Still such a newblet lol
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"THE Reptiholic"
I stopped counting at 30....
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04-01-15, 02:32 PM
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#12
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
Could also be similar to how humans sometimes crack their knuckles, or stretch their arms in weird ways to relieve stresses in the back. Maybe snakes just want to stretch their muscles or work out tired spots in their jaws.
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0.1 tangerine albino honduran milksnake /// 0.1 snow southern pinesnake /// 0.1 black pinesnake /// 1.0 "hypo" north Mexican pinesnake (jani) /// 1.0 cincuate pinesnake (lineaticollis) /// 1.1 red striped gargoyle geckos /// 0.1 kitty cat /// 2.6.12 tarantulas(assorted species)
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04-01-15, 03:10 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Mar-2014
Location: Victoria, TX
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
... You are all missing the obvious, the snake was clearly trying to figure out if it could open its mouth wide enough to swallow you yet. It determined it had some growing still to do. You are safe for now 
On a more serious note, we don't even seem to know why we yawn. When I read this thread it popped into my head that we yawned to balance the pressures in our inner ear, but a quick google search suggests we yawn to regulate the temperatures in our brain. Thermoregulation. And here I thought that was a coldblooded thing.
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04-01-15, 03:31 PM
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#14
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Albert Clark
IMO, it really is reflexive, and happens intermittently. Peace.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Minkness
Oh, so it could be needing oxygen like us, or maybe he rubbed his face at some point and just decided to fix his jaw at that moment......Makes sense....Thanks for the info!
Still such a newblet lol
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Quote:
Originally Posted by prairiepanda
Could also be similar to how humans sometimes crack their knuckles, or stretch their arms in weird ways to relieve stresses in the back. Maybe snakes just want to stretch their muscles or work out tired spots in their jaws.
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The above are all pretty much the assumed reasons, (along with doing it after eating to realign the jaw) but ultimately we can't say for sure one way or another with each instance (although after eating is pretty obvious).
Quote:
Originally Posted by FWK
... You are all missing the obvious, the snake was clearly trying to figure out if it could open its mouth wide enough to swallow you yet. It determined it had some growing still to do. You are safe for now |
Best. Response. Yet. Loved it!
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04-01-15, 03:36 PM
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#15
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Re: Why do snakes yawn?
Lol FWK!
Thanks for all the feedback guys!
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