26 Q 12
How do snakes and crocodilians breathe when their mouths are full of food?
Crocodiles and alligators have a elongate robust well-reinfroced skull and massive jaw arranged to provide a wide gape and rapid powerful closure with a secondary palate which allows them to breathe with food or water in their mouths. Since a snake must keep brathing during the slow process of swallowing, its tracheal opening (glottis)is thrust forward between the two mandibles.
page revision: 2, last edited: 27 Apr 2009 14:39