Do snakes breathe while they are eating?

[Cirith Ungol]

Question above...

Thanks.

 

[beetleman]

yes they do, they have a "hole" forgot what it is called,right where their tongue is ,when they are swallowing the meal that "hole" is open so they can breath while they are swallowing.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

I'm asking because I watched a program today where it was suggested that reptiles don't breathe while they eat their prey - they don't chew it and don't breathe while it's going down.

That seemed a bit odd to me, especially since my corns can take 5min to swallow a mouse. I have seen the windpipe open up wide after the mouse has gone down, but I've never checked while the prey item was still in the mouth.

 

[Brian F.]

yes they do, they have a "hole" forgot what it is called,right where their tongue is ,when they are swallowing the meal that "hole" is open so they can breath while they are swallowing.

Yes, there's a breathing tube under the tongue that allows breathing while swallowing prey. I believe it's called a eustacian tube (sp?). Can anyone confirm or correct this for me?

 

[dangerprone69]

The breathing tube is called a glottis.

 

[beetleman]

YES! that's it! man.........i should know these things:wall: ive got 4 snakes and i see that all the time when they are swallowing their meals.

 

[bugmankeith]

Ok so on the thought of breathing while eating, if my newt is eating underwater, is it holding it's breath or breathing through it's skin?

 

[Mushroom Spore]

I think they do, but possibly only through the nose? I don't remember the details exactly, only that I've read that one of the reasons a snake with RI won't eat is because the mucus keeps it from being able to breathe while eating. Which would explain why my python got a mouse halfway down his throat and promptly backed off right before I had to take him to the vet for an RI.

 

[dtknow]

Ok so on the thought of breathing while eating, if my newt is eating underwater, is it holding it's breath or breathing through it's skin?

Both. They stay under for a long time, but when eating or active they seem to need to come up about once every 5-10 minutes.

 

[Brian F.]

The breathing tube is called a glottis.

Bingo. That's more like it.