Constriction is a method used by several snake species to kill or subdue their prey . Although some species of venomous and mildly venomous snakes do use constriction to subdue their prey, most snakes which use constriction lack venom. The snake strikes at its prey and holds on, pulling the prey into its coils or, in the case of very large prey, pulling itself onto the prey. The snake then wraps one or two loops around the prey, forming a constriction coil. The snake monitors the prey's heartbeat to ascertain it is dead. This can be a physically demanding and potentially dangerous procedure for the snake, because its metabolism is accelerated up to sevenfold and it becomes vulnerable to attack by another predator.
13-588: Constrictor may refer to: Biology [ edit ] Any snake that kills its prey by constriction A taxonomic synonym for Boa , also known as "boas", a genus of non-venomous boas found in Central and South America, Mexico and Madagascar A taxonomic synonym for Python , also known as "pythons", a genus of non-venomous pythons found in Africa and Asia Other uses [ edit ] Constrictor (album) ,
26-493: A 1986 album by Alice Cooper Constrictor (comics) , a supervillain/hero in the Marvel Comics universe Constrictor knot , a binding knot Pharyngeal constrictor , one of the muscles that serves to constrict the pharynx Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Constrictor . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
39-415: A black spiny-tail iguana ( Ctenosaura similis ), which is the highest speed reported for a lizard. C. pectinata , C. similis , and C. quinquecarinata are popular as pets . At least two species, Ctenosaura pectinata and Ctenosaura similis , have been introduced into southern areas of Texas and Florida . They are also now in southern Arizona . The genus Ctenosaura represents
52-505: A few Australian colubrids. Ctenosaura Ctenosaura is a lizard genus commonly known as spinytail iguanas or ctenosaurs . The genus is part of the large lizard family Iguanidae and is native to Mexico and Central America . The name is derived from two Greek words: κτενός ( ctenos ), meaning "comb" (referring to the comblike spines on the lizard's back and tail), and σαύρα ( saura ), meaning "lizard". The species range in size (total length, including
65-546: Is impeded, arterial pressure drops while venous pressure increases, and blood vessels begin to close. The heart is not strong enough to pump against the pressure and blood flow stops. Internal organs with high metabolic rates, including the brain, liver, and heart, begin to stop functioning and die due to ischemia , a loss of oxygen and glucose. There is evidence that boa constrictors have more difficulty killing ectotherms —animals like lizards and snakes that rely on external heat to regulate their body temperatures. A boa constrictor
78-448: The western terrestrial garter snake (North American colubrid which is an inefficient constrictor and, like most Thamnophis garter snakes, mildly venomous), some species of Boiga snakes (Asian and Australian rear-fanged colubrids) including the brown tree snake ( Boiga irregularis ), some species of Australian elapids (including some of the venomous Pseudonaja brown snakes and one Australian coral snake Simoselaps ), and
91-399: The brain. In other words, constriction can work by different mechanisms at varying pressures. It likely interferes with breathing at low pressures, can interrupt blood flow and overwhelm the prey's usual blood pressure and circulation at moderate pressures, and can interfere with neural processing and damage tissues at high pressures. During constriction when the prey's heart
104-417: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Constrictor&oldid=897899623 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Constriction Contrary to myth, the snake does not generally crush
117-475: The most diverse group of iguanas with 15 currently recognized species and at least two unrecognized species . These species inhabit lowland dry forests, woodlands and semi-open habitats, below 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) elevation, on both coasts of Mexico and Central America. The species in the genus Ctenosaura belong in several different clades . Closely related species show allopatry whereas species from divergent clades show sympatry . Until 2017,
130-551: The prey's body higher than the heart can counteract, resulting in cardiac arrest ; data from earlier studies had also indicated that snakes can exert enough pressure for these to be plausible. Certain groups of snakes have characteristic patterns of constriction, including the number of coils they use and the orientation of the coils. Venomous snakes that also use constriction include the genus Clelia (ophiophagous South American mildly venomous rear-fanged colubrids which use constriction to subdue snakes including pit vipers ),
143-744: The prey, or break its bones . However, wild anacondas have been observed to cause broken bones in large prey. Also contrary to prior belief, the snake does not suffocate the victim. Instead, a study of boa constrictors showed that constriction halts blood flow and prevents oxygen from reaching vital organs such as the heart and brain , leading to unconsciousness within seconds and cardiac arrest shortly thereafter. Further, multiple species of snakes have been shown to constrict with pressures higher than those needed to induce cardiac arrest. In conjunction with observations of oral and nasal hemorrhaging in prey, constriction pressures are also thought to interfere with neural processing by forcing blood towards
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#1732782422605156-411: The tail) from about 12.5 centimetres (4.9 in) to well over 1 metre (39 in). The distinctive feature of this genus is the presence of enlarged, spiny scales on the tail. Ctenosaurs are generally omnivorous , feeding on fruits, flowers, foliage, and small animals. While studying physiological correlates of locomotion in lizards, a "burst speed" of 34.6 km/h (21.5 miles/h) was recorded by
169-411: Was observed attacking a spinytail iguana for an hour, and the iguana survived. This relatively recent research (2015) suggests that other constrictors may kill in other ways. It had previously been accepted that constrictors used their body to hold the prey tight enough to prevent it from breathing, resulting in death from asphyxia , or that the pressure of constriction increases the pressure inside
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