Eastern Tiger Snake - Notechis scutatus
What's on the Menu?
Notechis scutatus are carnivores, meaning that they acquire their nutrients and energy by consuming other animals. They mainly consume frogs, but have been known to eat reptiles, birds, small mammals and sometimes fish as well. Having the ability to climb trees and bushes, eastern tiger snakes will go to the extent of climbing to high heights in order to obtain food.
The eastern tiger snake uses a variety of senses to track down and capture its prey, including sight, smell, hearing, and touch. When scavenging through bird's nests for food, many Notechis scutatus lose their vision and completely damage their eyes while under the attack of Silver Gulls. One study, focusing on the true effects of becoming blind, showed some interesting results for the eastern tiger snake. The results from this study, being measured over a 12 month period, demonstrated that although this specific snake species has suffered a loss of vision, they were still able to maintain their rates of growth and survival. Mating was still able to successfully occur and it was proven that the snake’s capability, after losing such a sensory organ, did not decrease. Notechis scutatus still have the ability to survive even after such an important sensory organ has been lost.
Photograph obtained from Wikimedia Commons.
The venomous bite of the eastern tiger snake delays or stops the prey's escape, by interrupting its normal body functions. By stunting the prey's normal body functions, especially in escape situations, the eastern tiger snake can minimize the struggle of capturing the prey and avoid injury at the same time. For front-fanged elapids, like Notechis scutatus, holding the bite upon striking is followed by a chewing action, which allows for the injection of the venom into the prey's muscles or body cavity. In contrast, the hinged-fang snakes usually demonstrate a strike-bite action. This action allows the snake to bite, while the venom is simultaneously injected into the prey. Eastern tiger snakes are known to have a vigorous, but quick bite. By using their large anterior ribs, they are able to spread their neck and lung forward with a blow so intense that at times, their body may slide forward, like a short jump.
Upon attacking prey animals, eastern tiger snakes begin the process of devouring their recent catch. The digestive system is composed of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, and glands. The strength and mobility of the jaw and mouth allows the snake to swallow large prey items. Notechis scutatus contains various head and jaw bones, which allow for bringing food into the body. The jaws found on one side of the head bite down, while the adjacent jaws shifts forward. This action found within the eastern tiger snake forces the prey into the snake's esophagus, with the help from secreting saliva and venom glands.
The fangs act as a grasping tool to
help pull the food into the mouth. After passing through the mouth
cavity, the prey is moved into the stomach by the neck and trunk muscles
of the body twisting and flexing. Once in the stomach, food passed into
the small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed. From there, it is
passed to the colon, where it leaves the cloacal opening as fecal
matter. In addition to food, water follows and passes through the
same
digestive organs, in which it is absorbed or excreted. After
consuming prey items, eastern tiger snakes store their food as
fat. By doing this, they allow themselves to survive off their fat
reserve in times of food shortages. This image was obtained from Venom
Supplies, with the photographer being Peter Mirtschin.
Notechis scutatus possess closed circulatory systems, meaning that the vessels carrying the blood do not open up into the body cavity. This species possesses a three-chambered heart, in which the heart generates enough pressure for the blood to flow in a constant circuit throughout the body. In addition, blood is distinct from interstitial fluid in closed circulatory systems.
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