Feeding behaviour in Cylindrophis and its bearing on the evolution of alethinophidian snakes

Abstract

Cylindrophis ruffus ingests prey using two distinct mechanisms. During initial phases of prey transport, lateral movements of the rear of the braincase combine with small unilateral movements of the toothed bones of each side; prey is usually constricted during this phase to permit the snake to push its head over the prey. Once transport has carried the leading part of the prey into the anterior oesophagus, Cylindrophis begins to use bilaterally synchronized movements of the jaw apparatus combined with low‐amplitude, short wave‐length flexions of the anterior vertebral column. Transport of prey is many times faster during the bilateral phase than during the unilateral phase.Radiographic and cinematographic evidence indicates that the mandibular tips of Cylindrophis do not separate more than 1.5–2.0 times the resting distance between the dentary tips. Although this limits potential gape size, the intramandibular joint is highly mobile, allowing the mandibles to conform to a variety of prey shapes. Manipulations of anaesthetized and fresh, dead specimens revealed that the palatomaxillary arches are tightly attached to the ventral bones of the snout, movements of each arch being reflected in equivalent movements of the ipsilateral elements of the snout. Cylindrophis represents a functional stage intermediate between most lizards with limited palatomaxillary kinesis and advanced snakes with considerable palatomaxillary mobility. Contrary to previous hypotheses, however, upper jaw liberation in Cylindrophis is due to liberation of the ventral snout, not to reduction of attachments to the braincase and snout. This suggests that the nose played a crucial role in the evolution of the feeding apparatus in alethinophidian snakes.