Snakes Locate Prey Through Vibration Waves

Most people had assumed that snakes, studied with simple microscopes did not have the ability to hear. Such kind of conjecture had been quite supported by the truth that these kinds of animals did not have an exterior ear. Moreover, scientific proof of snakes reacting towards sound had been a bit inadequate. However, the snakes owned one interior ear having one functional cochlea. A team of scientists had presented proof that these snakes, examined with simple microscopes, made use of such a configuration in order to become aware of insignificant sand surface vibrations which had been triggered by the prey moving. The snakes’ ears had been known to be really sensitive to be able to “not only hear” the approaching preys but in like manner, to permit the brain towards the localization of the way from which it originated.

According to the original article, any commotion at one sandy exterior could pave the way for vibration waves which would give out from the origin down the facade. The said waves would act like undulations on the exterior of one pond subsequent to the dropping of the stone into the waters. These sand waves would proliferate much rapidly compared to when such would be present at the surface of the water. The original article stated that its speed had been approximately fifty meters every second.

Furthermore, it was also conveyed that the snake could become aware of the tiny ripples. If such would relax its head upon the ground, both surfaces of the minor jaw would be transported into vibration through the external wave. The said vibrations would then be passed on straightly towards the ear on the interior though a sequence of bones which had been fastened towards the minor jaw. Such a procedure had been likened towards the spread of the auditory signals through ossicles in the middle ear of the human being. In other words, the snake could accurately hear vibrations of the surface. Moreover, it was expressed that mammals as well as birds, which could be examined with simple microscopes, could find exactly the origin of the sound through a comparison of the arrival periods of the sounds which disembark in both the right as well as left ear by way of the air. In terms of the sound which originated from that of the right, this right ear would react a portion of one second previously compared to that of the said left ear. Meanwhile, with regard to the sound which came from the left, an opposite situation would become evident.

According to the original article, putting together the approaches from the biomechanics as well as naval engineering together with the neuronal circuit modeling, it had been illustrated that snakes could utilize their ears to be able to carry out a similar trick for a sound which would arrive by way of the sand. It was also mentioned that both the left as well as the right section of the said minor jaw of snakes were not strictly coupled. As a matter of fact, they had been associated by some stretchy ligaments which would give them the ability to extend their mouths extremely in order to swallow a huge prey.

Here is a link to the article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080221105350.htm