Snake Teeth

Introduction

The arrangement and number of teeth is extremely species specific. Some species of snake have virtually no teeth while others have very highly developed teeth. The function of undifferentiated teeth is to draw food items into the mouth rather than to chew. Teeth continue to be replaced throughout life, including the fangs.

• For more information on captive snake diets, see Snake Feeding and Digestion.

Six rows of teeth are generally present in snakes commonly seen in the pet trade, one row on each side of the lower jaws and two rows on each side of the upper jaws.

Morphology

Teeth are of the pleurodont type and are generally not differentiated (aglyphous) except in venomous snakes or in species with specialised feeding habits that have fangs. None have conventional molars, premolars or incisors.

Fangs

Fangs may be located at the front or the rear of the mouth. Front fangs are either fixed (prosthoglyphous) or moveable (solenoglyphous). They are attached to the maxilla and may be shed monthly. Reserve fangs are present behind each functional fang and these grow in size, move forward and ankylose with the maxilla. Rear fangs may be one or two pairs of enlarged teeth positioned caudally in the mouth (opisthoglyphous) or the unusual arrangement seen in xenodontine dentition. When not in use, a membranous flap usually covers the fangs.

• In vipers and pit vipers, fangs fold caudodorsally and are sheathed when the mouth is closed.
• In elapids and colubrids with fangs, they remain erect and do not fold.

Position

Dentigerous bones include the mandibles, maxillae, palatines, pterygoids and sometimes the premaxillae. There are usually two rows of lower teeth and four rows of upper teeth.

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  External examination
  Note the teeth curving back in this giant snake - © RVC

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  The teeth are delicate and point backwards - © RVC

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  Solenoglyphous fangs of a diamond viper - © RVC

References

Mader, D.R. (2005). Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Saunders. pp. 47. ISBN 072169327X

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