EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Contrary to popular myth, snakes do not in fact dislocate their jaws. But they can certainly perform some spectacular feats of jaw agility. The snake’s head “walks” forward in a side-to-side motion over the prey’s body. In snakes, the lower bones of the jaw, or mandibles, are not connected like they are in mammals.

Detailed explanation-2: -No. Snakes have no chin, no chin bone, so their jaws aren’t connected the way ours are. There’s nothing to dislocate. Instead there are really stretchy ligaments that determine how wide the mouth can open.

Detailed explanation-3: -While it’s a myth is that snakes unhinge their jaws, the upper and lower jaws are made up of two parts that move independently of each other. The lower jaw segments are attached to each other by elastic ligaments that allow for their jaws to spread out.

Detailed explanation-4: -Crocodilians. Lizards. Snakes. Tuatara.