Snakes Have a Unique Defense Mechanism
In the animal kingdom, while dogs bark “woof woof” and cats meow “meow meow“, snakes produce a sound that resembles “sss“. In fact, snakes can hiss as a form of defense. Typically, humans must place their tongue between their front teeth to generate sound, but snakes lack front teeth. So how do they produce this sound, and sometimes even stick out their tongues at the same time?
It turns out that snakes produce this hissing sound from a structure in their respiratory system called the glottis. This is essentially a small opening at the base of the snake’s mouth that opens when the snake breathes.
Snakes can hiss for defense.
The glottis is connected to the trachea, which links to the snake’s lungs. Snakes have only one functional lung, with the other being a vestigial remnant. This means that it is just a small remnant of a larger functional organ that existed in their ancestors. Thus, the functional lung is composed of two parts.
According to Live Science, David Penning, an Associate Professor of Biology at Missouri Southern State University, explains: “When a snake hisses, it expands its ribs, takes a deep breath, and then exhales for an extended period. The hissing sound results from the rapid movement of air through the glottis. Snakes can vary the volume by tightening their ribs and forcing more air out.”
This expert further mentions that a snake’s tongue does not play a role in this process.
However, the sound of hissing can vary among different snake species. For example, the king cobra (scientific name: Ophiophagus hannah) can produce a hiss that resembles a “growl.”
Unlike other animals, snakes generate sound, specifically hissing, for a single purpose: defense. This expert points out that hissing does not convey information or change significantly depending on the situation. This type of sound is nearly indistinguishable from white noise.
Nevertheless, regardless of the sound and message being the same, it is clear: Stay away. Heeding this warning is beneficial for both you and the snake.
