serpentes

Serpentes is a suborder of squamates that comprises snakes. They are characterized by elongated, limbless bodies, a highly flexible skull, and a jaw apparatus that allows swallowing prey much larger than the head. Scales cover the body, and most snakes wear a transparent spectacle over the eye instead of movable eyelids. The tongue is forked and used with the Jacobson’s organ to detect chemical cues.

Anatomy and physiology: Snakes typically have a reduced or absent left lung; many species have a single functional lung. They lack limbs, and males possess paired hemipenes. Most have a kinetic skull and numerous vertebrae with ribs. Some lineages, such as vipers, have heat-sensing pits that detect warm-blooded prey.

Diversity and distribution: Serpentes includes many families, such as Boidae, Pythonidae, Viperidae, Elapidae, Colubridae, and Lamprophiidae, with species occupying terrestrial, arboreal, fossorial, and marine habitats worldwide (sea snakes). Snakes are carnivorous, feeding on vertebrates or eggs; some specialize on eggs, amphibians, or invertebrates. Prey capture varies: constriction in boas and pythons; venom injection in vipers and many elapids.

Reproduction: Reproduction is diverse; many species are oviparous, while others are viviparous or ovoviviparous. Venom systems have evolved multiple times and vary in potency and delivery.

Conservation: Many species face threats from habitat loss, persecution, and collection. Snakes play important ecological roles as predators and prey in many ecosystems.