Bronze back tree snake Dendrelaphis tristis swallowing a tree frog part 2 #snake #frog #swallow

The bronze tree snake (Dendrelaphis spp.) is a non-venomous snake species found in various parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. It is known for its slender body, arboreal lifestyle, and exceptional climbing abilities. While the bronze tree snake primarily feeds on small reptiles, birds, and amphibians, including tree frogs, it is fascinating to understand how it manages to swallow a prey item larger than its head, such as a tree frog.

When a bronze tree snake encounters a tree frog as its prey, it relies on its specialized adaptations to capture and consume it. Here's a general overview of the process:

1. Hunting: The bronze tree snake locates its prey, typically by visual cues or by detecting the frog's movements or scent. It relies on its excellent eyesight and agility to spot and pursue the tree frog.

2. Capture: Once the snake is close enough to the tree frog, it strikes rapidly, using its sharp teeth to grasp the prey and secure it. The snake's mouth anatomy allows it to hold onto the frog securely while it prepares to consume it.

3. Subduing: The snake may use constriction to immobilize the prey further. Although not all bronze tree snakes constrict their prey, some may wrap their bodies around the tree frog to restrict its movements and prevent escape.

4. Swallowing: The unique aspect of the bronze tree snake's feeding behavior is its ability to consume prey much larger than its head. It achieves this through the remarkable flexibility of its jaws and skull bones. The snake's lower jaw is not fused at the front, allowing it to stretch widely, while the upper jaw is loosely connected to the skull. This flexibility enables the snake to open its mouth to a considerable extent.

5. "Walking" the prey down: The snake employs a swallowing technique known as "walking" to engulf the tree frog. It uses its jaws alternately, moving them forward one at a time, while gripping the prey with its teeth. This motion propels the prey further down the snake's throat.

6. Digestion: Once the tree frog is inside the snake's digestive system, the process of digestion begins. The snake's digestive enzymes break down the prey's tissues, and the nutrients are absorbed for energy and growth.

It's worth noting that while bronze tree snakes are capable of swallowing prey larger than their heads, they still need to choose their targets carefully. They have limits to what they can consume based on their own size and flexibility, and attempting to swallow excessively large prey can be dangerous or even fatal for the snake.

Remember, this information is a general overview, and specific interactions between a bronze tree snake and a tree frog can vary depending on factors such as the size and condition of the snake and the prey item, as well as other environmental circumstances.