WITHNaked bites happen in the blink of an eye. Some can strike fleet-footed rodents with a flash of scales and fangs that lasts just 60 milliseconds. Such rapid action, although potentially lethal, is mysterious simply because it defies close examination. Until now.
Researchers recorded lightning-fast snake bites using two high-speed cameras recording at 1,000 frames per second. Publishing your conclusions V Journal of Experimental BiologyAn international team of scientists caught 36 species of venomous snakes biting artificial prey made from ballistic gel. They used 3D coordinates to compare the style and movement of shots measured across several variables including speed, acceleration, contact angle and flare angle, to name a few.
They found that snakes in the Viperidae family, called vipers, are capable of reaching higher peak speeds than snakes of the family Elapidaewhich is home to the king cobra, black mamba and other species.
Researchers have also reported these horrifying facts about snake bites. Elapids bite their victims several times to pump as much venom into them as possible. And they recorded one member of the family Colubridae, a species native to sub-Saharan Africa called Fischer's cat snake. (Toxicodrias pulverulenta), shook its jaws from side to side to inflict a wound on the victim. Of course, this was done to ensure that the maximum amount of poison got into the wound.
While the researchers have helped provide unprecedented insight into the fascinating field of snakebites, they may have done little to quell the fears of ophidiophobes.
Here is a viper bite:
And here is the bite of the Fischer cat snake:
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Main image: Marzufello / Shutterstock
