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Is it still believed snakes can't see well?
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by Kingetula on October 5, 2009
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I ask because on many shows you see them do infrared shots of a rattlesnake hunting or what it looks like as the snake watches a person or mouse go by and the picture looks blurry. I even believe comments have been made they can't see well. I don't know how this can be proven. I agree smell and heat is used by these animals but just like a dog that can smell, it also see's great too.
I bring this up because I just left my snake room and I was standing about 2 feet away from a cage and maybe 2 1/2 feet away was my head from the snake. I was chewing on some beef jerky and standing perfectly still. The snake saw my jaw movements and the feeding responce kicked in. It could not smell me (Very well I'm guessing) and I'm sure couldn't pick up my heat behind 1/4 glass (or not that well) but it still saw the slightest movements in my closed mouth chewing.
Also these snakes have an amazing strike. I've seen first hand a Diamondback strike out of it's hide box hole with perfect aim.
I think snakes can se much better than people think.
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RE: Is it still believed snakes can't see well?
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by LarryDFishel on October 5, 2009
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Snake vision certainly SEEMS to vary a lot by species. Fast moving snakes that pursue their prey and arboreal snakes tend to have better vision. Some burrowing snakes seem to have pretty poor vision. I'm not sure I can quantify it much more precisely than that.
When they show the infrared shots, usually, that is meant to simulate what they "see" with their heat pits, not with their eyes. My suspicion is that their heat vision is most likely a lot LESS detailed than what is usually shown. With a big, apparently non-adjustable pupil and no lens, it's hard to believe they can tell much more than a rough size, position, distance and temperature with them... They might perceive it as an image, but I think it would be a VERY fuzzy one...
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RE: Is it still believed snakes can't see well?
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by Kingetula on October 5, 2009
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I understand what you are saying about different snake species. Sure, some may even have no vision, (Blind snake, lol)
That's the thing however as you talk about making out size and all. This snake was locked on to my jaw movements and nothing else and I can't honestly say they were moving much.
Depending on snake species of course, I think the average snake can see much better than we believe. They are predators and so far we certainly know they are highly adapted killing machines with every bit of there senses fine tuned to hunt and kill. I may be going against the grain here and many "experts" in this area but how do we really know? We don't, we only assume, right?
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RE: Is it still believed snakes can't see well?
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by Crotalusssp on October 5, 2009
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Many species do see quite well. Also keep in mind that the infrared heat pits are tied directly into their optic nerves to their brains, so they work hand in hand with eyesight. The pits are sensitive to temperatures differences of less than .03 degrees from several feet away. Very accurate measurement.
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RE: Is it still believed snakes can't see well?
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by Cro on October 5, 2009
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Some snakes have excellent vision, and others do not.
To some extent, snakes that are active in hunting down prey probably have better distance vision than snakes that sit in ambush.
That is the unfortunate thing about a lot of publications and TV shows. They will make a blanket statement like "snakes have poor vision" and the dumb masses out there will soak it up, and it will become part of the public perception of snakes.
Best Regards
John Z
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RE: Is it still believed snakes can't see well?
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by LarryDFishel on October 5, 2009
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Scott, the comment I made about them only being able to make out "rough size, position..." was only meant to apply to heat pits. Most seem to see much better than that wither their eyes.
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RE: Is it still believed snakes can't see well?
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by Kingetula on October 6, 2009
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Yeah, I understand.
Maybe someone will do a documentary in the future and give better facts on snakes vision and not blanket it... Don't want people thinking a Blind Snake can see really well lol.
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