Brecko, J. & Herrel, A. 2007. ‘More than meets the eye: A cineradiographical analysis of egg eating in the snake genus Dasypeltis’. Journal of Morphology 268(12): 1053-1053. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/295208619_More_than_meets_the_eye_A_cineradiographical_analysis_of_egg_eating_in_the_snake_genus_Dasypeltis  I.F. 1.7.

Article in a scientific Journal / Article in a Journal

Despite being one of the best known cases of extreme morphological specialization with far reaching ecological consequences, relatively little is known about the mechanics of egg eating in snakes of the genus Dasypeltis. Most of our knowledge on the system stems from a groundbreaking set of papers by Gans and co-workers from the last century (see summary in Gans, 1974). Here we revisit several hypothesis proposed by Gans and co-workers using high-resolution digital videofluoroscopy. Our data for three specimens of two species of Dasypeltis, feeding on eggs varying widely in size, confirm predictions by Gans (1974) that the egg shell is broken before coming into contact with the modified and enlarged hypapophyses of the 29th through the 38th vertebrae. Moreover, our data show that these enlarged hypapophyses do indeed function to rupture the egg membrane as suggested previously. Finally we address mechanisms of egg ingestion and the packing of the egg shell for regurgitation. Gans, C. (1974) Biomechanics. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.