Snake scene tore the prey to eat in an unprecedented way

Scientists found that Southeast Asian species know how to tear prey into pieces, very impressive for a vertebrate creature.

According to Science, snakes do not have sharp teeth to chew or tear off prey, so swallowing is always the most ideal solution.

Living in the rainforest, Gerard (Gerarda prevostiana) snakes often eat soft shell crabs that are bigger than themselves. As a result, they gradually learn how to take out their prey and swallow one piece at a time.

Previously, researchers have observed quite a lot about this snake in the wild and learned that they eat crab meat. But this is the first time there has been a specific study of Gerard's snake behavior.

Bruce Jayne from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio (USA) and colleagues used an infrared camera to record images of snakes tugging crabs in the dark of the lab.

'The whole process of Gerard's snake eating hard-shelled crab meat lasts for about 20 minutes and this is their favorite food , ' said researcher Bruce Jayne, insisting that they completely rip off crab crabs though have hands.

The snake knows how to tear the crabs into pieces to make swallowing easier.

Initially, Gerard's snake snuggled easily in his mouth. The snake then curled into a noose and tightened the crab inside, It used its head to tear the prey into small pieces and swallow it. The snake also knows how to tear each leg and make it easier to eat separately.

This astonishing way of eating meat helps water snakes to eat larger prey than them four times, thus accessing richer sources of food than their counterparts.

The study was published in the biology journal of the Linnean Association.