Snakes are excellent subjects for studying functional versatility and potential constraints because their movements are constrained to vertebral bending and twisting. In many snakes, swallowing is a kind of inside-out locomotion. During swallowing, vertebral bends push food from the jaws along a substantial length of the body to the stomach. In gopher snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) and king snakes (Lampropeltis getula), swallowing often begins with lateral bending of the head and neck as the jaws advance unilaterally over the prey. Axial movement then shifts to accordion-like, concertina bending as the prey enters the oesophagus. Once the prey is completely engulfed, concertina bending shifts to undulatory bending that pushes the prey to the stomach. The shift from concertina to undulatory bending reflects a shift from pulling the prey into the throat (or advancing the mouth over the prey) to pushing it along the oesophagus towards the stomach. Undulatory kinematics and muscular activity patterns are similar in swallowing and undulatory locomotion. However, the distinct mechanical demands of internal versus external force exertion result in different duty factors of muscle activity. Feeding and locomotor movements are thus integral functions of the snake axial system.
Join the JEB team
We are seeking a Reviews Editor to join the JEB team for 12 months as maternity cover. Find out more about this exciting opportunity to make a significant contribution to the leading journal in comparative physiology and biomechanics.
Canadian Society of Zoologists' annual meeting: 17-21 May
JEB is a proud sponsor of the Canadian Society of Zoologists' annual (virtual) meeting. Visit our dedicated webpage to find subject collections associated with the talks/awards, information for early-career researchers and to learn more about the journal.
Call for papers - Building New Paradigms in Comparative Physiology and Biomechanics
Our upcoming special issue is welcoming submissions until 31 July 2021. The special issue will be published in early 2022 and will be widely promoted online and at key global conferences.
Sharpshooting archerfish brake to overcome recoil
Archerfish are exceptional snipers and now it turns out that they use their fins as brakes to counteract the recoil that would submerge them when taking out a target with a jet of water.
Responses of terrestrial polar arthropods to high and increasing temperatures
In a Review of thermal adaptation of polar terrestrial arthropods to high temperatures, Bahrndorff et al. conclude that a large variation in upper thermal limits exists across polar regions, habitats and species.
Welcome to our new Editorial Advisory Board members
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